** Beni: a campaign against the exploitation of children, between challenges and hopes **
On May 23, 2023, in Beni, a city in North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a campaign against the economic exploitation of children was launched, orchestrated by the social affairs division with the support of other structures engaged in child protection. This initiative raises essential questions about the reality of children in the streets of Beni, where poverty, armed conflicts and the lack of opportunities create a fertile ground for exploiting practices.
The identification of children forced to beg on the side of the roads or to work in precarious conditions is at the heart of this campaign. The teams, called to browse the various districts of the city, seek to identify and alert the inhabitants to the dangers linked to the exploitation of children. Figures concerning minors involved in illegal or dangerous economic activities remain worrying, revealing a social crisis to which it is urgent to respond.
In a memorandum addressed to the mayor of Beni, Alex Kighoma, the head of the social affairs division highlighted the multiple threats that weigh on these young people. These children, largely out of school, become easy targets for armed groups that exploit their vulnerability. The accounts of traffic accidents, violence and recruiters of hammered children in the protection discourse emphasize a tragic paradox: when their teacher should be their main contact, they are often malicious actors who appropriate their lives.
Free help, which allows some children to access a mode of transport, then becomes a taxation that takes them away from the school. You should wonder: how can societies really ensure the security and well-being of young people while fighting poverty that obliges them to abandon their education?
The authorities, by this campaign, were invited to adopt a critical look at the systemic or socio -cultural factors which contribute to the exploitation of children. The advocacy addressed to track down motorized vehicles led by minors is part of an adult empowerment process, often accomplices to these violations. However, it might be relevant to explore the reasons that push families to sacrifice the safety and education of their children for short-term gains.
The question of itinerant trade, perceived not only as a work but often as a necessity for family survival, also deserves a careful examination. Children who travel the city late at night do not only brave the dangers: they embody families who are struggling to eat daily. Ignoring this socio-economic dimension would risk hindering efforts to eradicate this farm.
Alex Kighoma also mentioned the breakdown of family ties, a phenomenon to relate to the wider social ills that affect the province. The often abandoned children find themselves trapped in a cycle of theft and violence, thus representing a threat to themselves and for their fellow citizens. How to promote a return to the family fabric for these young people in difficulty, in order to reduce risky behavior and allow them to find a form of stability?
Advocacy for judicial treatment adapted to the children concerned, by placing them under the protection of the child protection police, could open a space for reflection on the need for restorative justice. The care of these young people must be guided by the concern to help them find family education and security rather than stigmatizing them as simple offenders.
In such a complex context, solutions must be built while integrating dialogue with the community, the State and non -governmental organizations. An interdisciplinary approach is essential, involving the training of parents on children’s rights, but also access to reinforced social services. Awareness of the risks run by young people and the advantages of sustainable education must become a shared priority.
In Beni, the launch of this campaign seems to be a first step towards a wider action. The challenges are numerous and the solutions will not be immediate. However, dialogue between social actors, local authorities and families could offer new prospects for a future where children and adolescents can evolve in a safe environment and respectful of their rights. The fight against the exploitation of children should not only be limited to declarations, but to be part of a long -term commitment to promote in -depth structural changes.