THE 19-days Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (PCAN) campaign has started.
The campaign which was launched on Thursday saw representatives from the United Nation Children's Fund (UNICEF), members of the National Co-ordinating Committee on Children and Ministry of Social Welfare officials sharing ideas on how they could organise events leading up to Universal Children's Day on November 20.
Social Welfare permanent secretary Govind Sami said they had reached another year and with assistance of UNICEF, they would continue to advocate to sustain these special days for children, invest in prevention, support and strengthen the initiatives already in place by those who had done before them.
However, he said this year's celebration was a bit different where there had been an internal 19-days drive of activism compared to the one day previously celebrated.
These 19-days, he said, would include nationwide activities and would end on the International Children's Day on the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, culminating into the Universal Children's Day in November 20.
"The 19-days of program will educate communities on the need to provide an enabling and supportive environment for the development of children," he said.
With this year's theme "Celebrate Life Protect a Child" emphasised that children were gift from God and their protection and creating of a supportive, inclusive environment was the duty of every citizen.
"There cannot be any differences in the treatment of children whether they come from rural areas, urban or rich or poor families.
"There is no place for discrimination against children," said Mr Sami.