AFRUCA Africans Unite Against Child Abuse
AFRUCA (Africans Unite Against Child Abuse) is a UK charity, established in 2001 by Modupe Debbie Ariyo OBE, as a platform for advocating for the rights and welfare of African Children. AFRUCA was set up in response to the deaths of African children in the UK such as Damilola Taylor, Jude Akapa, and Victoria Climbie who suffered abuse. AFRUCA works both across the UK from two bases in London and Manchester, and internationally in partnership with agencies across Europe and in Africa.[1] AFRUCA also heavily relies on the 1989 United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child to form the basis of their work. The organisation's stance is that culture and religion should not be a reason to abuse children.[2]
Mission
AFRUCA's mission is to promote the rights and welfare of African children.[3]
Vision
AFRUCA's vision is to see a world in which African Children can live free of cruelty and abuse at the hands of others.[3]
Aims and objectives
- Raise the profile of African children in the UK, and create awareness of their needs in ways that promote a positive climate for change.
- Ensure that children are aware of the risks of abuse, know their rights, and have skills to protect themselves.
- Promote positive parenting among African parents and others who care for children.
- Increase the understanding of service providers and those with leadership roles in relation to African communities about the risks of abuse to African children, and promote the development of appropriate services, practices, and support to African families.
- Influence the development of policy and regulatory action in ways that will safeguard African children.
- Develop the leadership potential of young Africans.[4]
Work Areas
AFRUCA has five areas they state as their main areas of work:[5]
- Awareness raising and sensitization
- Information, education, and advisory services
- Advocacy and policy development
- Community and international development
- Support for Children and Families in Crisis
Ongoing Work in the UK
- Community Volunteering Project – London and South of England [6]
- Safeguarding Children from Witchcraft Branding Policy Project
- Safeguarding Child Victims of Trafficking Across London and the South of England [7]
- Working with Faith Organisations to Safeguard African Children
- Expert Assessments and Reports in Immigration cases
- Family Support Programme
- The Dove Project – Supporting Families Affected by Witchcraft Branding in Newham
Work in Nigeria
- AFRUCA Foundation for the Protection of the Rights of Vulnerable Children in Nigeria [8] Project focuses on improving the environment for children in Nigerian through the following areas:
- Trafficking in children within and across borders
- Child slavery as plantation workers, camel minders, and mine workers
- Child domestic servitude
- Use of children as soldiers
- Sexual Abuse
- Sexual exploitation
- Street Children/Aids Orphans
- Socio-cultural traditional practices that impact negatively on children
Press
Press cuttings
- BBC: We Must Change Witch Practices[9]
- BBC: Religious Show TV Miracle Hour “Puts Lives At Risk”[10]
- Department for Education: Safeguarding Children From Abuse Linked to Faith or Belief[11]
- Guardian: This Care System is Creating “Written Off Children”[12]
- Leadership: Cases of Baby Factories Worry Rights Activists[13]
- Sussex News: Detective Inspector Cycles to London to Paris to Raise Money for AFRUCA[14]
- Tackle Overrepresentation of African Children in Child Protection System, Government Told[15]
- MP Hosts Summit to Tackle Violent Witchcraft Abuse[16]
- Voice Newspaper: Stateless Children Forced into Lives of Crime and Sex Work[17]
- The Commonwealth: Poverty Fuelling Witchcraft Hysteria[16]
- Guardian: Slavery Claim Women to Receive Compensation from Metropolitan Police[18]
- Voice Newspaper: African Families Devastated by too Many Children in Care (Trudy Simpson[19]
- Voice Newspaper: Breaking the Silence on Child Witches[20]
- Community Care: African Children in the UK Vulnerable to Exploitation and Abuse[21]
- Voice Newspaper: Plans to Tackle Witchcraft Based Child Abuse Welcome[22]
- Trafficked Nigerian Girls’ Stories: Equality and Human Rights Commission[23]
- New Internationalist: Child Abuse as Cheese Sandwich[24]
- The Zimbabwean: Child Protection for Parents[25]
Press releases
- AFRUCA Holds 7 Days Activism against Human Trafficking in London and Manchester[26]
- Group tasks government over rising cases of 'baby factories'[27]
- Over-representation of African children in child protection system[28]
- AFRUCA condemns Woolwich killing[29]
- AFRUCA Wins Best Community Organisation at the African Diaspora Awards[30]
Online videos
References
- "AFRUCA - Africans Unite Against Child Abuse". unglobalcompact.org. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
- "Africans Unite Against Child Abuse (AFRUCA) | End Violence". End Violence Against Children. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
- "About Us". AFRUCA. 2013-10-12. Archived from the original on 2013-12-06. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "About Us | AFRUCA | Page 2". AFRUCA. 2013-10-12. Archived from the original on 2013-12-06. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "About Us | AFRUCA | Page 3". AFRUCA. 2013-10-12. Archived from the original on 2013-12-04. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "Volunteer Children's Champions (VACANCY) | AFRUCA". Archived from the original on July 3, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
- "Safeguarding Child Victims of Trafficking Across London and the South of England". AFRUCA. 2013-10-12. Archived from the original on 2013-09-18. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "in Nigeria". AFRUCA. 2013-10-12. Archived from the original on 2013-12-06. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "UK | England | London | We must change 'witch' practices". BBC News. 2005-06-04. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "BBC News - Religious TV show Miracle Hour 'puts lives at risk'". Bbc.co.uk. 2013-02-21. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "Safeguarding children from abuse linked to faith or belief - Children and young people". Education.gov.uk. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "This care system is creating written-off children | Precious Williams | Comment is free". London: theguardian.com. 2012-06-18. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "Cases Of Baby Factories Worry Rights Activists | Leadership Newspaper NG". Leadership.ng. Archived from the original on 2013-08-02. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "DI cycles to London to Paris to raise money for AFRUCA". Sussex.police.uk. 2013-05-31. Archived from the original on 2016-02-04. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "Tackle over-representation of African children in child protection system, govt. told - theafronews". Theafronews.eu. Archived from the original on 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "Chuka Umunna MP » MP hosts Summit to end violent witchcraft abuse". Chuka.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2013-06-05. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "Stateless children forced into lives of crime and sex work". The Voice Online. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- Matthew Taylor (2011-05-20). "Slavery claim women to receive payout from the Metropolitan police | World news". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- Simpson, Trudy (2012-11-25). "African families 'devastated by too many children in care'". The Voice Online. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- Pears, Elizabeth (2013-05-27). "Breaking the silence on child witches". The Voice Online. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- Camilla Pemberton (2010-10-25). "Family group conferences could save millions, says report". Community Care. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "Plans to tackle witchcraft-based child abuse welcomed". The Voice Online. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "EHRC - Trafficked Nigerian children's story". Equalityhumanrights.com. 2011-05-20. Archived from the original on 2013-12-12. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "A cheese sandwich - New Internationalist". Newint.org. 2011-05-18. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- Eldon, Steve. "Child protection for parents | The Zimbabwean". Thezimbabwean.co. Archived from the original on 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "Holds 7 Days Activism against Human Trafficking in London and Manchester". AFRUCA. 2013-10-12. Archived from the original on 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "Group Tasks Government Over Rising Cases Of 'Baby Factories'". AFRUCA. 2013-10-12. Archived from the original on 2013-07-03. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "Over-Representation Of African Children In Child Protection System". AFRUCA. 2013-10-12. Archived from the original on 2013-07-03. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "Condemns Woolwich Killing". AFRUCA. 2013-05-30. Archived from the original on 2013-07-03. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "Wins Best Community Organisation at the African Diaspora Awards". AFRUCA. 2013-04-30. Archived from the original on 2013-07-03. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "At what age can a child be legally left at home?". YouTube. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "Child Protection Training for African Parents Projects". YouTube. 2012-11-03. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "Is there a difference between child labour and abuse?". YouTube. 2012-11-03. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "What do you want Afruca's future to be?". YouTube. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "AFRUCA 9th Anniversary Video". YouTube. 2010-06-20. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
- "AFRUCA". YouTube. 2012-07-13. Retrieved 2013-11-15.