He said routine monitoring by the Department revealed that most orphanages in the Region did not meet required standards to operate as residential homes or centres.

Mr. Tackie said a chunk of the institutions were not operating with the Care Order Document, which was to be issued by the court of law based on recommendations by the Department as permit to run orphanages. They institutions were also unable to account for donations given them.

He said in view of the above, children housed in such homes were not covered by any legal document to promote and protect their welfare and rights against any form of violation or abuse.

Mr. Tackie said though the residential homes nurtured children who had been trafficked, abandoned or traumatised by abuse, the rights and welfare of such children could not be guaranteed, for which reason those orphanages ought to be shut down.