Community Safety And The Protecting Our ... - Auckland Council

PROMOTING AND CELEBRATING WAITAKERE’S CHILDRENPROJECT OVERVIEWResearch shows that societies that accept violence and do not value children are more likely togenerate a higher incidence of child maltreatment than in societies in which children are highlyvalued. 11Reclaiming wider community ownership and pride in children will be necessary in stoppingfamily violence against young children. The concept “that it takes a village to raise a child” isone worth promoting, as are strategies and plans that promote the celebration of children andthe important place they have in our society.Although Waitakere City Council has a “First Call for Children” policy, considerably more couldbe done across the City – especially in terms of involvement of children and young people in onthe ground projects, along with the promotion of children’s rights and values within our City.Some examples:q The concept of a Waitakere Children’s Day could be developed. This could be a day/aweek/a festival/a series of linked events all focused on celebrating children and coulddovetail with national Children’s/Tamariki Day.q Or a certificate could be sent to every child born in the City to congratulate them on theirarrival and let them know their rights, roles and responsibilities in being a citizen ofWaitakere.qqqqqqqqqqqqSOME KEY STAKEHOLDERSWaitakere City Council - libraries, leisure, public affairs etcTe Whanau o Waipareira TrustWESTChild focused agenciesSchoolsEarly childhood education/care centresMinistry of Social DevelopmentChild Advocacy GroupsAnd other interested agencies and individualsRESOURCES REQUIREDCoordination resource to ensure wide range of stakeholders are involved/ linked intocelebration/ promotion activitiesNew dedicated funding to run child focused celebrations/ promotions/ events (ongoingannually)Significant communication budget to ensure opportunities for attendance/ participation arewidely promoted11Department of Child Youth and Family (1999) “Familial Caregivers’ Physical Abuse and Neglect ofChildren: A literature review”PAGE 23