Breaking Barriers in enhancing Child Protection across the Pacific Region

 “We need to speak up and break the silence if we care about the wellbeing of our children”

The Pacific Conference of Churches is joining efforts to combat violence against children and ensure the safety and protection of all Pacific children.

“Child protection is not just about following the policy that is provided by figures of authority,” said Child Protection Program Assistant Kinisimere Saratibau. “For me, it means providing the love and care in ensuring that children’s minds, bodies and spirit are kept safe and healthy.”

The Child Protection Program Assistant, expressed her passion for her role, particularly when it comes to the safeguarding and protection of young people. “Whatever a person experiences in childhood impacts the type of person they become,” she said. Saratibau emphasized the importance of instilling strong values and providing loving guidance at an early age, as these shape children into the adults they become. She stressed that whilst adhering to child protection policies is crucial for building a safer society for everyone, there is a need to look into integrating preventative methods into communities and church activities .

Caption: Ms. Kinisimere Saratibau, Assistant for the Pacific Conference of Churches’ Child Protection Program. Picture: Milinia Katonitabua

“Ensuring the participation of children is also an important priority,” she said. The Child Protection Mission consistently organizes activities for children to engage in. Previously, they conducted webinars that encouraged participation not just from children in Fiji but across the region. “These activities allow us to learn new things and gain insights from children’s perspectives,” she noted. Saratibau shared that in a training session, children participated in an activity to identify places where they feel safe, such as at church, home, school, or with friends. The majority indicated that they feel safest at church. “This is great news for our protection team, and we will incorporate this information into our advocacy efforts to ensure that children’s voices are heard,” she stated.

With that, Saratibau posed a critical question: “Is the church safe for children?”

The Pacific region is becoming increasingly unsafe for children, with reports of sexual and violent abuse emerging daily—even at the hands of those children trust the most. “The biggest challenge is that, despite seeing and hearing about these incidents, people remain silent,” said Saratibau. She highlighted that approximately 41 percent of child abuse cases are perpetrated by family members. “The pressing question is where will children find love and safety if even in their own families, where they should feel most secure, is not safe anymore?” she asked.

With that she emphasized that as the church, the Body of Christ has a moral duty and obligation in protecting children, reflecting the belief that children are precious gifts from God. “The question is, how do we care for this precious gift?” She noted that, as described in the Bible, Jesus welcomed children, and we should strive to do the same. Addressing child protection from a biblical perspective can have a profound impact on individuals’ lives, she added. Consequently, it is essential for people to change their mindsets, behaviors, and attitudes to create a safer and better future for the children of the Pacific and this is to be done in a loving way.

Saratibau emphasized the significant role that the church and community have in child protection. “Many communities lack access to police stations and other service providers, but the church is present and can raise awareness to ensure the safety of the entire community,” she stated. She suggested that churches can create awareness by sharing biblical messages, which would empower individuals. Saratibau urged the government to recognize and involve churches in its planning efforts, noting that where there is a church, there are also people. “We believe that the church and the community are intertwined,” she added.

In the coming months, the Child Protection Program plans to recruit new members and finalize a newly developed child training manual. The manual, which will serve as a resource tool for training in other countries and will be launched at the upcoming Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) Executive committee meeting.  The programme will also conduct capacity-building and early childhood training sessions in November, co-facilitated by UNICEF and the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC). Adding on, there is also a phasing-out process that is to take place in all pilot countries beginning with Solomon Islands, where representatives will meet with the Solomon Islands Christian Association and local church leaders to advance collaboration efforts.

For that, Ms. Saratibau expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the funders, UNICEF and Bread for the World, for their substantial contributions to improving the visibility and effectiveness of child protection initiatives.

Saratibau urged the Pacific region to make child protection a priority, emphasizing that it is a shared responsibility. “We all have an important part to play in keeping these precious gifts safe,” she said. She stressed that love means ensuring safety and protection, calling on everyone to show God’s love by taking responsibility for the region’s children.