Africa-Press – Angola. One hundred and seven cases of child labor were registered from January to March this year, by the National Children’s Institute (INAC), in the province of Zaire, an increase of 30 occurrences compared to the same period in 2023.
The head of INAC’s provincial service, Rafael Kidiwa, explained that this number is part of 327 various incidents reported by his institution during the first quarter of the current year, compared to 123 registered in the first three months of 2023.
He pointed out the municipalities of Mbanza Kongo, Soyo and Cuimba as the districts that recorded the most cases of child labor during the first three months, although without providing statistical data.
According to the person responsible, during the period under analysis, 119 cases of evasion of paternity, 21 of infant abandonment, 11 of child disputes, 21 of neglect, 24 of early pregnancy, one of physical aggression, eight of sexual abuse and a case of escaping from maternity.
Rafael Kidiwa said that many children involved in child labor in some municipalities in the province do so under the orders of their parents who send their children to sell products in the streets, schools, churches and markets.
“It is regrettable to see children in broad daylight wandering from one place to another with products on their heads, only to bring food home at the end of the day”, he deplored, stressing that INAC and partners work to discourage this behavior.
He added that many of these children who sell products on public roads end up being attacked both physically and sexually by criminals, taking into account the places they frequent.
“We have also received support from the non-governmental organization World Vision in raising awareness among communities, through lectures and other meetings in places with greater population agglomeration”, he explained.
He also spoke about the contribution of child protection networks in reporting some mistreatment that many minors are targets of across all municipalities in the region.
The source said that, currently, the province of Zaire has child protection networks in the six municipalities.
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