THE Lagos State Government has restated its commitment to reducing the spate of child abuse in the state and ensure that minors are protected from abuse.
Towards this, the Director, Citizen Rights, Ms. Adetutu, disclosed plans by the state to create greater awareness of children’s rights in line with the “THEMES” agenda of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu Administration.
Oshinusi disclosed this during a sensitisation programme at the Eva Adelaja Girls Senior Secondary School, Bariga and Ajayi Crowther Memorial Senior Grammar School, Bariga.
She explained that the sensitisation programme was in furtherance of the “One Stop Child Justice Centre” an initiative of Directorate of Citizens Right (DCR) for fighting child abuse and protecting minors from abusers.
The director said the state, in collaboration with the state’s Ministry of Justice, is fully committed to promoting and advancing child rights.
“We believe in the best interest of the child as the first and paramount consideration. We believe in the rights of our children to non-discrimination; to assurance of their best interests; to survival, development and protection; and to participation and self-expression”, she stressed.
Oshinusi emphasised that the state would continue to enhance the protection and support for vulnerable children through sensitisation programmes and campaigns.
She reassured participants that the Sanwo-Olu administration “has all it takes to safeguard the rights of children in the state and ensuring the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators of all forms of child abuse in the society”.
Principal Social Welfare Officer, DCR, Mr. Henry Adedeji, emphasised the importance of sensitising schools, saying this will further ensure that students are aware of their basic human rights, the laws that protect them and the adeptness to know specific agencies to report matters, whenever their rights are being infringed upon.
Resplying, the Principal, Eva Adelaja Girls Senior Secondary School, Mrs. Soyoye Oluyinka, expressed profound gratitude to the state government and Ministry of Justice for promoting and bringing awareness of the Child Rights Law to the school.
Mrs. Olayinka emphasised the need for participants to do much more to ensure that no child is left behind in any part of the sensitisation process and also making certain that students will continue to be monitored and guided on their rights.