Members of the Children Broadcasters Network with support from UNICEF and NCC is in preparation for this year’s World Children’s Day celebration slated for 20th November. 12 Producers and 48 children of the network were engaged to enlighten them on the CRC and to deliberate on issues of this year’s theme: “Children takeover to end violence against children in Sierra Leone” at the NCC conference room, Adelaide Street on Friday 10th November and the GGEM Hall, John Street on Saturday 11th November respectively.

The World Children’s Day is a day established in 1954 and is celebrated on November 20th each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children’s welfare.
On that day children will raise their voices in solidarity with the world’s most disadvantaged and vulnerable children. The goal is to empower children to ‘takeover’ and come together to speak out on issues that are most important to them in order to stimulate public interest and help in fostering change

The sessions were facilitated by Ms. Ramatu Kargbo of Plan International and Superintendent Mira Koroma who also doubles as the Face of the campaign. Superintendent Koroma was selected as a local influencer and face of the campaign based on her work with and for children as former head of the Family Support Unit in Sierra Leone. She will also embark on activities that will bring issues of violence against children to the limelight and help influence change.

Discussions were centered on the various forms of violence against children in Sierra Leone, such as exploitation and abuse, trafficking, physical and humiliating treatment or punishment, harmful traditional practices (including early marriage and female genital mutilation/cutting). It was established that such abuses take place at home, in school, and in the community.
The participants also proffered solutions or recommendations to end these violence acts against children in Sierra Leone.
These information are expected to the used by the CBN members in their various children’s programmes before and after the World children’s day celebrations. The children will engage duty bearers on this year’s theme and what should be done to end violence against children in Sierra Leone.

Using the Children Broadcasters Network (CBN), on the D-day, the children will also ‘takeover’ popular radio and TV programmes and undertake other activities that will help raise awareness on the UNCRC and ending violence against children in Sierra Leone.