Humanitarian organisation, Save the Children International has called for the full implementation of the Child Rights Act in the country.
County Director of the organisation, Duncan Harvey urged both the Federal and State governments to prioritise and ensure the full implementation of the rights and privileges that every Nigerian child was entitled to enjoy.
He made the call in Abuja during the closing ceremony of a two-day capacity building and sitting of the 7th National Children’s Parliament (NCP) put together by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with Save the Children International.
Harvey said the organisation was committed to eliminating various forms of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violations of children’s rights across the country.
He noted that critical issues such as early, child, and forced marriages, child labor, abduction, and school dropout rates, which undermined children’s dignity, potential, and future.
According to him, these issues contradicted the Child Rights Act (2003) and the Child Protection Law which have been adopted by all state in the country.
He stated: “In principle, violence against children is preventable, when governments, civil societies, communities, and individuals unite with a shared vision and commitment, children can be protected from all forms of violence, harmful practices, and abuses, enabling them to achieve their full potential.”
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Gabriel Aduda, underscored the ministry’s deliberate efforts to promote children’s rights to participation adding that the importance of involving children in discussions on matters affecting their well-being, as it empowers them to speak out and reduces the culture of silence surrounding sensitive issues.
The permanent secretary, who was represented by the Director, Child Development in the ministry, Ali Madugu also said the very exercise of promoting child participation was one of the core principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which asserted that children and young people have the right to freely express their views and that there was “an obligation on us as adult and policy makers to listen to children’s views and to facilitate their participation in all matters affecting them in accordance with article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which the Child Rights Act, 2003 upholds.”
He added: “The participation of children in decision-making is a core principle of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, it emphasizes children’s rights to freely express their views and obligates policymakers to listen and facilitate their participation in all matters affecting them.”
Speaker of the 7th National Children’s Parliament (NCP), Rt. Hon. Progress Umoh, stressed the parliament’s resolution to ensure the safety of Nigerian children both in and outside of school.
She pledged to collaborate with governmental and non-governmental organisations to eliminate harmful practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and tribal marks through awareness campaigns in rural areas.
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The speaker called on the government, traditional rulers, international community and the Nigerian public to safeguard the rights of children as the government cannot do it alone.
She said: “We urge everyone to protect and safeguard the rights of children such that they are safe, not being afraid to walk on the streets or being afraid of kidnap or molestation, and whereby child labour is eliminated “
She stated that at the end of the meeting they intend to work with relevant actors on how best to implement the Child Rights Act especially in the rural communities with little or no awareness about the Act.
