Parents and guardians may face legal consequences if their children are found loitering on the streets or living rough, a hard line being pushed by the government to protect vulnerable youths. Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran, issued the warning, stressing that guardians are their child’s first line of protection and that neglect will not go unaddressed.
Kiran said protecting children is both a constitutional right and a moral duty. An inter-agency team, working in concert with the Medical Services Pacific and the Salvation Army, has been actively removing children from the streets, offering them food, shelter and counselling, and then returning them to their homes. When some children return to street life, authorities warn that parents may face charges for neglect.
If families are struggling, the government notes that help is available with livelihood options; however, using children to earn a living is illegal and unacceptable. Loitering, the minister reminded, is an offense under Section 8 of the Minor Offences Act and can carry a penalty of up to three months in prison.
The call to protect children is backed by the 2013 Constitution, which guarantees the right to protection from abuse, neglect, violence, and exploitative labour. The minister also urged those enrolled in rehabilitation or training programs under the Inter-Agency Exit Strategy Pathway Partnership not to return to street life and warned that repeat offenders will be prosecuted.
Loitering is not a path forward; it only sets children back. Parents and guardians must keep children safe at home, engaged in proper programs, and away from the streets, the minister said.
In addition to enforcement, the government and law enforcement agencies are committed to prosecuting individuals who exploit children’s vulnerability. The public is encouraged to report any sightings of children on the streets or begging to the police, reinforcing a community-wide effort to safeguard the welfare and rights of all children.
This nationwide focus aims to create a safer environment for children and a hopeful path toward their brighter futures, underscoring the shared responsibility of families, communities, and authorities to protect vulnerable youths. Proactive collaboration between parents, social services and law enforcement is seen as essential to ensuring every child grows up safe, healthy and supported.
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