Commissioner for the National Commission for Children, Olayinka Laggah stated that her commission did not frown at children helping their parents but rather at children being used as labourers.
She said the schooling and learning activities of children in the country should not in any way be affected. She furthered that the President of Sierra Leone had entrusted upon her the responsibility to ensure every child has a brighter future.
“Being a child of a disabled does not a recipe for child labour, persons with disability must stop using their children’s as their means of survival through begging in the street of Freetown” Laggah noted.
The commissioner made a general plea to disabled parents, as she admonished them to send their children to school, a situation she said the children will be empowered to tackle societal challenges as well addressing the needs of their parents.
Program Manager for the National Commission for Disabilities, Sahr Kallan Davowah described the day as a vital one; owing to the fact the day tends to seek the interest of the United Nations mandate in advocating against child Labour.
He furthered that his commission has not been restricting parent not to assign household duties to their children, adding that they are working relentlessly to put an end to child labour.
A representative from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Sulaiman Massaquoi stated that there have been various forms of child labour practices in the country. Massaquoi emphasized that disabled parents should see reasons to foster a better life for their children, by empowering them with education instead of street begging.
Lots of persons with disabilities present at the celebration ceremony expressed appreciation and pointed out that government and those that are responsible for their wellbeing should provide them with shelter and food for their daily survival.
They promised that as soon as government provides their basic amenities they will abandon the street of Freetown, together with their numerous children’s. At the moment they confirmed that their only means of survival is street begging.
