The Congolese Church Pastorship must now ensure that its robust new child protection procedures are "cascaded down to influence Congolese churches," the Executive Director of the Churches' Child Protection Advisory Services (CCPAS) recently said.

Director David Pearson further noted that "all leaders and children's' workers must now receive appropriate child protection training."

More than 200 Congolese church leaders gathered recently in the presence of Children's Minister Beverley Hughes to pledge the best possible protection for the children in their congregations.

The pledge for Congolese pastors to work for the safeguard of children was signed at a major event in a church in north London earlier this month.

Organised by CCPAS in partnership with the Congolese Pastorship UK, the event was also attended by senior representatives from the Metropolitan Police and the DFES.

The Congolese Church Pastorship was founded as a response to allegations of child abuse connected to a small number of churches within the Congolese community. Since then, Congolese church leaders of all denominations have actively been working together with CCPAS, the Metropolitan Police and local authorities to ensure that churches affiliated to the Pastorship provide the optimum protection for their children and encourage churches not yet affiliated to follow their example.

Children's Minister Hughes said: "This pledge to put a new priority on child protection is a very welcome move from the Congolese Pastorship. I'm very pleased that they have worked so closely with us and the London child protection agencies on this.

"It is imperative that we all work together to reduce the risk of harm to children and to ensure that proper action is taken to intervene when necessary. It is the least our children deserve."

David Pearson commented: "The Children's Minister has come to see for herself the giant strides that have been made by Congolese churches across the spectrum in terms of developing and implementing the best possible standards of child protection.

"In that context, it is essential that the few - very atypical - cases that have arisen are not seen as acceptable by African churches in general - the overwhelming majority of which have no truck whatsoever with child abuse of any description.

"Today's pledge-signing event proves that good safeguarding standards are being promoted in Congolese churches and their leaders are being encouraged to work with the statutory agencies wherever there are concerns. In so doing, it is not only beneficial to each and every church involved, but it will help isolate and expose any group that may be in danger of putting children at risk."