The African Union hosts the annual International Day of the African Child on June 16 to increase awareness of the rights and ongoing struggles of African children.

Additionally, the day offers a forum for talking about and addressing topics including healthcare, education, and safety from exploitation and abuse.

It began in 1976 when stu­dents in Soweto, South Africa, were killed for demonstrating against inequality and injus­tice in education.

Since children have rights that must be upheld, the African Day celebration is appropriate because it serves as a poignant reminder to our communities to put children’s needs first, ensuring that they develop and realise their full potential.

Most importantly, it push­es people, governments, and communities to address press­ing issues like child labour, inadequate education, and to ensure safe, healthy environ­ments.

This year’s theme, “Plan­ning and budgeting for chil­dren’s rights: progress since 2010,” is no exception to the efforts done thus far by gov­ernments, individuals, par­ents, and others to advance the welfare of children.

In addition to their rights to nutritious food, medical care, secure housing, and high-qual­ity education, children also require emotional support, safety, and protection from danger in order to flourish.

Children’s physical, men­tal, and social development depends on these necessities, yet far too many continue to be denied their rights and go without food, housing, water, or health care.

While eating, sleeping, playing, and learning are all important aspects of a child’s growth, some children do not find these activities enjoyable. Such children work inde­pendently to make ends meet although their parents are responsible for that role,

Many people and organ­isations have put a lot of effort into making sure that children’s rights are outlined, upheld, and safeguarded; thus, everyone must keep fighting for children’s rights.

The Convention on the Rights of a Child (CRC) was created in 1989 as a result of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which served as the foundation for all legal norms pertaining to children’s rights. This is the first inter­national agreement with legal force that covers all human rights.

Therefore, a multifaceted strategy encompassing le­gal frameworks, education, community involvement, and tackling systemic challenges is needed to assure the preserva­tion of children’s rights.

Laws that safeguard chil­dren from abuse must be put into place and upheld, public awareness of children’s rights and protection must be in­creased, and safe spaces must be established in institutions and communities.

Let us all work together to defend the rights of African children.

 Dear Editor,

In a car on my way to work on Tuesday, I listened to an interview on sanitation on a radio station which a local government expert said that most of the people that handled waste management issues at the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies, were not waste manage­ment professionals but health profes­sionals.

According to the speaker, this has contributed to the failure to address the sanitation problems, especially at the local level.

These health professionals who have been tasked to oversee waste management are only occupied with the health related dangers but have no clue on the issues at hand.

I felt very sad and found it disturb­ing as to why people without profes­sional training in waste management is given responsibilities in a field alien to him.

Waste management involves a lot of processes, including segmentation of waste products as well as recy­cling.

Employers must know that waste management professionals at the local level was important as it helps making decisions ton how to combat it.

This is not a problem at the local government level alone. It is some­thing across the various sectors.

Maybe this is the time for us as a country to start recruiting qualified professionals to occupy their respec­tive fields to bring their competence to the table to solve whatever prob­lem persist.

It is clearly a case of putting ‘square pegs in round holes.’ I be­lieve it is about time we change that narrative and employ professionals who are qualified to find solutions to our waste management conundrum.

Baba Hafiz, Kasoa