‘’Please Protect Me – I am the future of PNG’’ was the theme for this year’s Pikinini Protection Day that was celebrated by more than 500 children and their parents at St Mary’s Hall in Lae on 2 September 2017.
The event was an initiative of the Lae Police’s Family and Sexual Violence Unit and was coordinated by them together with other FSV stakeholders and the Australian Federal Police.
The objective of the event was to inform the children and their parents on child rights. Sargent Mandy Arnold said, ‘’Pikinini Protection Day is to build on the positive relationships between the police and the community, and to raise awareness on issues affecting families in Lae including health, education, protective behaviors and the rights of children.’’
Femili PNG’s Child Protection Officer and staff organized a number of activities that the children were involved in to educate them on children safety rules and their trusted network. These activities gave the children a better understanding on how to protect themselves and who they can confide in.
Business houses and other stakeholders in Lae also assisted the children with food and goods, and supported in making the event a success.