•BAN

By JULIUS PHIRI –

UNITED Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said that there has been a remarkable rise in primary and secondary school enrolment across Africa over the past 10 years.
In a message delivered by Chef de Cabinet Susanna Malcorra who participated in the two panel discussions in commemorating Day of the African Child in New York, Mr Ban, however, demanded the immediate release of the girls who were kidnapped in Nigeria by Islamist group Boko Haram.
“We need to make sure that the crucial objective of education for girls features prominently in the post-2015 development framework. Today we should also pause to remember the kidnapped girls of Nigeria, who only wanted to go to school. We demand their immediate release,” he said
This is contained in a statement by first secretary for Press and public relations at the Permanent Mission of Zambia to the United Nations, Chibaula Silwamba.
Zambia assured the international community of its commitment to continue promoting the wellbeing of children, provision of quality education, eliminate and prevent violence against children.
“As Zambia turns 50 this year, it remains resolute to promote the welfare of its population, especially children to mould them into future leaders,” the statement read.
“The Zambian Government is engaging all stakeholders, including traditional leaders, religious leaders and the civil society to end early, child and forced marriages.
“We are committed to eliminate all forms of child abuse including defilement, child neglect and reduce the number of girl children that drop-out of school.”
The Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the forerunner of AU declared June 16 as the Day to celebrate the African child in commemoration of the 1976 massacre of school children by the Apartheid regime in Soweto, South Africa.
The students were killed during a protest against the education system designed to further the interests of the Apartheid regime.
Both the African Union Permanent Observer Mission and the Permanent Mission of Zambia to the United Nations co-hosted the Day of the African Child celebrations at UN Headquarters in New York, renewing the commitment to uplift the wellbeing of children.
In line with the theme, several speakers – including UNICEF deputy executive director Martin Mogwanja, reaffirmed the need to increase investment in the education sector, protection of children from abuse and partnerships to empower children.