Africa-Press – Cape verde. The president of the Cape Verdean Institute for Children and Adolescents (ICCA), Zaida Freitas, said today that continuous evaluation of public policies is “important,” and argued that combating this phenomenon requires constant vigilance and institutional commitment.
These statements were made during the presentation of the results of the National Action Plan for the Prevention and Combat of Sexual Violence against Children and Adolescents (PANPCVSV), which took place in Praia.
Zaida Freitas emphasized that combating sexual violence cannot be the responsibility of a single entity, advocating an integrated approach involving sectors such as education, health, justice, security, families, and civil society.
“The success of this plan depends on the concerted action of all sectors,” she stated.
Among the main constraints, Zaida Freitas pointed to the “insufficiency” of financial resources, the territorial fragmentation of the country, and the “weak” coordination between institutions.
For her part, the Secretary of State for Social Inclusion, Lídia Lima, praised the commitment to child protection, considering sexual violence against children and adolescents a central concern of Cape Verdean society and governance.
According to Lídia Lima, the issue of child protection is a concern for society in general, and for governance, especially because it has been receiving the “due attention” from state institutions across the board.
The official added that there has been progress, particularly in the approval of the new Statute of the Child and Adolescent, as well as the development of some guidelines for foster care institutions.
Even so, she acknowledged the existence of persistent challenges such as family breakdown, alcohol and drug use, and the situation of children and adolescents living on the streets.
“We cannot feel completely satisfied. We still have a long way to go and new solutions to develop,” she stated.
Jairson Gomes, speaking on behalf of the Joint Office of UNDP, UNICEF and UNFPA in Cape Verde, highlighted that the implementation of the Child Protection program has been possible thanks to a “strong” partnership with national institutions.
He also emphasized the commitment of everyone involved in building more effective, coordinated responses aligned with national and international standards on children’s rights.
Despite the progress made, he warned of the persistence of “significant challenges”.
“There is still a way to go to ensure that all children in Cape Verde live free from violence, abuse or exploitation,” he stated, adding that the current global context, marked by economic, social and environmental crises, increases the vulnerability of children and demands more resilient protection systems.
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