Lifeline/Childline Namibia’s role in child protection services
Child protection services play a crucial role in safeguarding the nation's future. This article explores the current state of these services, the challenges faced, and strides being made to protect the most vulnerable members of society by Lifeline/Childline Namibia.Lifeline/ChildLine's social workers are authorised to perform duties related to the welfare and protection of children.
The social workers are tasked with various responsibilities under the legal framework of the Child Care and Protection Act of 2015. Among them, they can attend court cases related to issues such as child access, adoption, foster care and kinship placement, custody and dispute, and the and the removal and restoration of children.
Not only do they work with children, but also with adults and families, providing psychosocial support, mediation or any other needed services.
The social workers collaborate with other stakeholders, such as the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Unit, NGOs, the health and social welfare ministries, children's homes, and others.
This multi-faceted approach ensures that children receive the holistic support they need.
Lifeline/Childline Namibia conducts numerous initiatives aimed at child protection, including:
- Child Protection Trainings: These programmes equip individuals and communities with the knowledge and skills to safeguard children.
- Community Outreach Programmes: By educating communities about child abuse, children’s rights, and protection measures, these programmes have made a positive impact across different regions of Namibia.
Lifeline/Childline Namibia offers a range of essential services, including:
- In-Country Adoption: Facilitating the legal adoption process within Namibia.
- Custody and Dispute Resolution: Addressing legal disputes concerning child custody.
- Access Arrangements: Ensuring appropriate access rights for parents and guardians.
- Foster Care and Kinship Placement: Placing children in temporary or permanent homes with foster or kin carers.
- Placement at Residential Child Care Facilities: Providing care for children in designated residential facilities.
- Removal and Restoration of Children: Safely removing children from harmful situations and working towards their restoration.
For those in need of counselling or assistance from a social worker, Lifeline/Childline Namibia can be contacted at the toll-free numbers 106 and 116. These lines are staffed by trained professionals ready to provide support and guidance.
Despite significant progress, Lifeline/Childline Namibia faces substantial challenges, such as high caseloads and limited resources. These hurdles must be overcome to provide even better care for our children. Nevertheless, community responsiveness has been encouraging, with many child protection cases reported anonymously or by family, friends, or community members.