The Lagos State government has reassured the citizens of its commitment to protecting the rights of children in the state, stressing that such privilege is accorded them under the Human Rights Law.
The Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary of the state’s Ministry of Justice, Funlola Odunlami, made the remark during an awareness programme on the rights of the child, organised by the Directorate for Citizen’s Rights, to commemorate the 2018 United Nations World Human Rights Day.
Odunlami, who was represented by the Director, Administrator General and Public Trustee, Adetunji Dawodu, said in her keynote address, that, the society should not take children’s rights for granted, adding that the concept of child rights should be fully imbibed and embraced at all societal strata.
The Solicitor General stated that the state government has achieved a lot with the Child Rights Law of the state, the Adoption Laws and has set up Family Courts, given lengthier maternity leave period for a better mother –child bonding, with a 10 working days leave for fathers to assist the mothers with the newly born.
She also said that, ”the establishment of the One Stop Justice Centre is the directorate’s focus and dedication towards ensuring that children are protected and well cared for.”
In her statement, the Director, Directorate for Citizens Rights, Abiola Oseni, urged parents and government to pay more ”genuine attention to morals and be considerate to the rights and interests of children as they are the bedrock of our society.”
She pointed out that success of all the laws and policies protecting the rights of children depended largely on the cooperation of members of that society.
Leave a Reply