Nairobi, 04 March, 2024 / 9:00 pm (ACI Africa).
Safeguarding officers in the Inter-Regional Meeting of the Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA) have pledged to maintain safe environments that reduce risks for children and vulnerable adults in the region that brings together nine countries.
In a statement issued after a February 26 to March 1 workshop, the officers said they were “determined to work towards an environment that is safe, nurturing, healing and free from any form of abuse, harm, or exploitation.”
“We are committed to maintain safe and healthy environments that mitigate risks to children and vulnerable adults. We are dedicated to adopting without delaying a culture of vigilance, transparency, and accountability,” they said in the Monday, March 4 statement following the workshop that was themed “Promoting Safeguarding in the Church: A Forum for Dialogue and Exchange in Southern Africa”.
They said they would employ a “child centered approach” to uphold the dignity of vulnerable persons.
The officers noted that by employing the child-centered approach, they would be promoting the children and vulnerable persons’ “participation and decision-making and listening to their voices and acknowledging their rights and responsibilities.”
