[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 98 (Thursday, June 15, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


          OBSERVING THE FIFTH ANNUAL DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD

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                          HON. FLOYD H. FLAKE

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 14, 1995
  Mr. FLAKE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to support 
the observance of the African Child on June 16, 1995.
  I come to you today with this request simply because it only seems 
suitable, coming from a country that invests in human capital, that 
each and every Member should be able to look within their hearts and 
realize that the African, specifically the South African, child has 
been traumatized over the course of apartheid and the demoralization of 
Africa as a whole.
  The Day of the African Child commemorates the June 16, 1976 massacre 
of school children in Soweto, South Africa. Since the original 
designation by the Organization of African Unity in 1991, it has become 
an event that has mobilized communities around the world to look at the 
situation of all African children and to celebrate the diverse cultures 
and traditions of the large continent.
  The theme of this years Day of the African Child will deal with 
children in armed conflict. Amazingly enough, a study showed that 75 
percent of the children in Rwanda has seen mass killings. In several 
African countries, boys as young as 11 years old have been recruited 
into military training. It is quite obvious that the future of these 
children is very bleak, that is without proper intervention.
  Moreover, since we always only focus on the hardships of Africa, this 
day is a time to also look at the accomplishments of the continent. For 
not every child in Africa suffers from disease and malnutrition, or is 
impoverished or illiterate.
  I thank all of my colleagues for their attention to this important 
matter and I hope that each and everyone of you will participate in 
this observation.
  It is up to us to let these children know that their struggles were 
not in vain.


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