WWSF Prize
for Prevention of Child Abuse 2004
Formerly "Betty Makoni Prize"

WWSF awards four organizations on the occasion of
World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse – 19 November 2004

First Laureate 2004 (US$ 3000)

Women Action Coalition Child Abuse - WACCA, Nigeria

Women Action Coalition Child Abuse WACCA, whose mission is to uphold and promote the rights of the child by establishing and developing prevention strategies (through advocacy, training, counseling services, discussions, seminars and media discussions) was created in 2002 by the Women Action Committee WAC in response to the launch of the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse – 19 November. The need to establish an international link with WWSF Women’s World Summit Foundation as a strategy for preventing child abuse in Nigeria emerged after a collaboration workshop with Nnamdi Azikiwe University (Awka, Anambra State - Nigeria), the Ministry of Education and the State Primary Education Board SPEB. The initiative led to the creation of an international coalition with SPEB, known as WACCA.

WACCA first joined the WWSF international coalition marking the World Day in 2002. Its activities have resulted in the establishment of twenty-four counseling clinics and rehabilitation centers and in the creation of programs to address child abuse in primary schools (guidance- and counseling modules). A module for the teachers and a guide to prevent child abuse in the family were also launched by WACCA.

In 2003, WACCA organized a one-day event with experts and personalities addressing child abuse, progress made in preventing abuse, guidance- and counseling services and law enforcement. Other activities included drama, music and debate competitions on preventing child abuse (the six best debaters were selected for State presentation and were given scholarships), as well as a march with children from primary schools carrying placards and banners with messages on prevention of child abuse.

Thanks to WACCA, the government of Anambra State endorsed the celebration of the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse – 19 November as an annual event. Institutionalized in all Primary schools of Anambra State, the Day’s main objective is to ensure that parents, teachers and the society at large join hands to prevent child abuse.

see picture of Women Action Coalition Child Abuse - WACCA

go top  

Second Laureate 2004 (US$ 1000)

Pakistan Council for Social Welfare & Human Rights - PCSW & HR

Established in 1992 and working for Human rights, Minority rights, Child rights, equality, social justice and durable peace, the Pakistan Council for Social Welfare & Human Rights joined the WWSF international coalition for the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse – 19 November for the first time in 2003. On that occasion PCSW & HR organized remarkable activities throughout Pakistan.

After convening meetings with the Education Department and various district authorities to inform them about the observance of the World Day in the country, instructions were issued to Heads of colleges, secondary-, elementary-, primary- and technical schools, inviting them to organize special activities to mark the Day. Thus, on 19 November, teachers held special sessions in about 1890 educational institutions and thousands of parents participated.

Observed throughout the whole country, the World Day provided information on the rights of the child and stressed the need for protection and prevention of child abuse.
Many awareness walks for prevention of child abuse were organized at various locations in collaboration with Union Councils. Thousands of parents, students, teachers, lawyers, etc. participated and carried banners. The walks were followed by Public gatherings and many personalities addressed the issue of prevention of child abuse. Special ceremonies were also organized in collaboration with the Sialkot Cathedral School (with many personalities, hundreds of students, teachers, vendors, factory owners, etc. attending) and at the Union Council level where about 100 Union Councils organized ceremonies with thousands of people participating.

All national newspapers published articles on child rights and prevention of child abuse and highlighted activities organized by PCSW & HR.

As a result of the World Day, it was decided that child rights protection committees would be formed at every Union Council and that strategies would be developed to protect child rights and prevent child abuse at every level.

see picture of Pakistan Council for Social Welfare & Human Rights - PCSW & HR

go top  

Two additional awards (US$ 500 each)

Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse of East Asia, STA - CPCA, China

CPCA, an organization which has been actively involved in prevention of child abuse and neglect and the promotion and protection of child’s rights since 1998, has organized for the third year remarkable community- and professional education activities on the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse:

The activities were reported on regional TV, as well as in the national, regional and Xi’an media.

CPCA also convened a Conference on Child’s Rights and Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect (3-5 November in Xi’an). More than 180 representatives form China, Germany, Turkey, Vietnam, France and New Zealand participated. Presentations focused on strategies to prevent child physical, emotional and sexual abuse.

see picture of Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse of East Asia, STA - CPCA

go top  

Vienna Network for Prevention of Sexual Abuse
against Girls, Boys and Youth, Austria

Since the launch by WWSF Women’s World Summit Foundation of the global awareness Day for Prevention of Child Abuse in the year 2000, the Vienna Network for Prevention of Sexual Abuse against Girls, Boys and Youth participated in 2003 for the third time in the yearly campaign.

In cooperation with over 20 partner associations, the Vienna Network organized a one-day conference (300 people attended: social workers, therapists, school teachers, police personnel, criminal agents, etc.) and 10 workshops:

1. Prevention in the very first years of life
2. Abuse dynamic in sexual violence against children and youth
3. All can happen, avoiding secondary damages
4. Sexual abuse - Ì have a suspicion – What can I do?
5. How to deal with damaged intimacy?
6. Decisions for prevention – abuse suspicion
7. Weakness and workability – concern and distance
8. Language - part of the work with youth sexual abusers
9. Violence prevention in caring and assisting young women, girls and men with disabilities
10. The language as a tool for violence (German and most other languages in the world are male languages).

Austrian TV: ORF – ZIB 2 presented the World Day for prevention of child abuse on 19 November during prime time evening news, followed by an interview with the well-known Paediatrician and Manager of the psychiatric children’s section of the AKH (Main Hospital in Vienna).

On 19 November 2004, the Vienna Network, in collaboration with other groups (i.e. associations of mothers and women, school teachers, etc.) is organizing a one-day benefit- and information event in Klosterneuburg, near Vienna. There, they will be lecturing on the importance of prevention of sexual child abuse and organize a “Reading”, together with teachers and pupils in a public hall. On that occasion, the WWSF Prize for Prevention of Child Abuse will be presented by Ilse Moser, German Coordinator of WWSF.

go top