DUAZON, MARGIBI – The Ministry of Gender, Kids, and Social Safety (MGCSP) has taken swift motion to take away kids concerned in hazardous rock-crushing labor within the Rock Crusher Group, Duazon, alongside the Robertsfield Freeway.
By Persistence M. Jones, Contributing Author
The intervention is available in response to a June 13 report by FrontPage Africa, which uncovered the tough and harmful circumstances kids have been enduring as they crushed rocks to assist help their households.
The article, accompanied by a video report, which circulated quickly on-line, triggered nationwide concern and widespread requires speedy motion. In response, the Ministry deployed a staff to the location as a part of its ongoing Avenue Little one Challenge.
Upon arrival, the staff performed a fast evaluation, held conferences with mother and father and neighborhood leaders, and ordered a direct halt to the usage of kids in any type of rock-crushing exercise.
Following the go to, the Ministry started documenting the youngsters concerned, together with their identities and residing circumstances, and dedicated to a plan of help geared toward guaranteeing each short-term aid and long-term safety.
The plan consists of the supply of small grants to folks and guardians to ease monetary pressures that always drive kids into labor, full educational scholarships for the upcoming 2025–2026 faculty yr to offer the youngsters entry to formal schooling, and sustained neighborhood engagement and monitoring to make sure faculty attendance and continued help.
This effort is a part of the second part of the Avenue Little one Challenge, which was launched in August 2024 and formally commissioned on April 13, by President Joseph Boakai. This system seeks to offer complete responses for youngsters in weak road environments and to handle the basis causes of kid labor and neglect.
The Ministry has additionally issued a stern warning to folks and guardians, emphasizing that involving kids in rock crushing or comparable harmful actions is a violation of Liberia’s youngster safety legal guidelines. Officers made it clear that any dad or mum or guardian discovered exploiting kids on this method will face arrest.
Area people leaders and residents have expressed appreciation for the federal government’s intervention. Group chairlady Madam Sonnie Mulbah prolonged because of FrontPage Africa for shedding mild on the problem.
She stated the neighborhood was shocked when the Ministry of Gender arrived on June 13, simply days after the FPA video was launched. She added that since then, the Ministry has been actively partaking with residents and dealing instantly with the youngsters concerned. She emphasised that with out the media publicity, the neighborhood could not have obtained such pressing consideration.
Single moms within the space additionally shared their gratitude and expressed hope that the federal government’s help will carry lasting adjustments for his or her kids and assist forestall them from returning to harmful labor practices sooner or later.
