Religious Institutions and Child Protection
Olatosimi kolawole
CHILD AND YOUTH PROTECTION FOUNDATION
www.nigeria .com
09069181765, 09075058399
Twitter:@cypfoundation
cypfoffi@gmail.com
Abuja
“We find strong consensus across our religious traditions about the inherent dignity of every person including children. Our religions share principles of compassion, justice, love and solidarity that are great strengths in dealing with the presence of violence in our communities. Our faith traditions take a holistic view of a child’s life and this seek to uphold all the rights of a child in the context of its family, community and the broader social, economic and political environment.”
-Mutli-Religious Commitment to Confront Violence against children – Kyoto Declaration
What are Religious Institutions?
Religious institutions broadly refers to structures and systems that have an organized collection of beliefs, practices, morals, worldviews which creates identities and representation, determines attitudes, emotions and behaviors. These include local worship communities like churches, temples, mosques, religious charities, religious schools, umbrella organizations, networks, religious homes among so many others. These institutions have the ability to reach a large number of people, possess structures that offer support and provide spiritual guidance.
Role of Religious Institutions and Religious Leaders
The Protection of children is the responsibility of the whole community and religious institutions are not excluded. Religious leaders and institutions have a huge role to play; to promote and provide child protection as well as contribute to the implementation of policies and practices that support protection of the rights of children. Leaders of religious institutions have the trust and confidence of individuals, families and communities, thus they have extra ordinary moral authority and are in positions to advocate for social and cultural change that influences thinking, attitudes and set priorities for members of their communities.
So It becomes important that religious institutions do not through denial and silence, tolerate and ignore the reality of child abuse in homes, families and communities because they have the capacity, influence and ability to be change makers.
Why are they important in protecting children in the society?
- Religious institutions are often the child’s first point of contact within the community beyond neighbor and social institutions where they learn about morals and social behavior which impacts their development and socialization. As such they strengthens children by giving meaning to difficult experiences and providing physical and spiritual support.
- Due to the level of impact religious institutions have on individuals and families, it has the capacity to protect and strengthens morality, shape morals and norms in the society and influence the development of personal and community beliefs.
- Religious institutions have strong structures and deep community access that may be are inaccessible to CSOs and government agencies which gives them the capacity to mobilize community resources and advocate at all levels. Religious actors are also able to penetrate family sphere in a way outside actors are unable to.
- In times of emergency situations such as the COVID 19 pandemic, where children are been exposed to different forms of abuse, religious leaders have the trust and presence within communities which can be used to provide support, sensitization and stability during these times.
How can Religious Institutions help Protect Children?
- Religious institutions have an impact on the development and socialization of children so it is important that they become safe spaces for children by participation of and creating opportunities for them to express their thoughts, ideas and opinions in manner that their voices would be heard and valued.
- Religious leaders can also protect children by advocating for and educating on the children rights, speaking on the dangers of child abuse and neglect and its effects on the development and survival of children. They may do this by translating the ideals of these rights into their religious contexts through platforms like sermons, teachings, preaching, readings, prayers and counseling and so on.
- Apart from advocating, they can also work towards by showing compassion and non-violence towards children, by also being vigilant and watchdogs to notice signs of abuse in children. In order however to recognize these signs, they need to build their capacity and awareness on child protection and this is where child protection agencies and CSOs can come in.
- Organize programs dedicated to ending child abuse, using international days, religious festivals and events such as mothers days, father’s day to raise status of children and promote nonviolence discipline, compassion and respect for children
- Ensure they have a child protection policy which denounces all forms of abuse
- Religious institutions should with the help of professionals provide emotional, physical and spiritual support to children who have gone through abuse.
- Some attitudes and beliefs are grounded in social and cultural norms and it is important that religious actors clarify and address these distinctions.
What are the Factors that may hinder performance of this role?
- When collaboration in religious institutions is only with the leadership it limits the involvement of important community religious networks such as women and youth. Also in collaborating, religious institutions view is with suspicion and mistrust as there is usually fear of hidden motives.
- Religious belief can sometimes be misinterpreted or misused in ways that can promote or condone violence and discrimination which can actually harm children and may result in child labor, orphan maltreatment, sexual abuse and other forms of abuse.
- Strong and strict ideas of religions can affect the ability or willingness to deal with sensitive matters that may affect children as they may not want to compromise on their values.
- Some religious institutions do not differentiate between civil and criminal matters in child protection issues. As a result of which they are mostly in conflict with the law as they try to tackle criminal issues based on their religious beliefs.
- Religious institutions have mistrust for conventional ideas that they see to be unpopular in their settings
Collaborating with Religious Institutions
- Child Protection actors, CSOs and governmental institution can work in partnership with religious institutions in order to strengthen their engagement in societies. They should carry out effective advocacy on child protection with religious institutions supporting the activation of their structures for psychosocial care and support services.
- It is important that in order to work with religious institutions, child protection actors should understand the language of religious communities, the appropriate entry points for engaging with religious institutions and communities. CSOs should also focus on having partnerships rather than imposing their attitude and perspective using confrontational and shaming approaches. As such they have to have adequate knowledge, skills and attitudes for effective collaboration.
- Collaboration within interreligious organizations is also very important as it allows for different religious institutions to come together and stand against child abuse as there is always power in working together.
- CSOs and government agencies should endeavor have respect for religious institutions and their beliefs.
