Gombe is the second state in the North, and fifth in the country to have a plan against violence targeting children, reports VINCENT OHONBAMU
On September 15, 2015 President Muhammadu Buhari urged state governments to end violence against children; on October 25, 2016 he renewed the call. Few states have heeded the call, Gombe recently becoming the second in the North and fifth in the country to respond to the President’s appeal.
Why the hesitation across the country? It is because society largely dismisses violence against children as a hoax. But the vice is real, occurring in physical, sexual or emotional forms. It is mostly perpetrated in the name of culture, tradition and norms; thus it is seen as disciplining the child, especially the physical form of it, which is why people hardly believe its existence. Where some reluctantly admit it, they are quick to associate it with the poor. But it transcends the socio-economic status of homes–meaning it could take place in rich, poor or middleclass homes.
Perpetrators are mostly people the children know–parents, guardians, relatives, househelps and teachers, neighbours and schoolmates, and it normally occurs in places where victims ought to be safe like home and school for instance.
Therefore, it is mindboggling, the large number of children experiencing violence on daily bases or would have experienced violence at a given point in their lives.
According to the Nigeria Violence Against Children Survey, children in Nigeria suffer violence in millions yearly – approximately six out of every 10 children experience some form of physical, emotional or sexual violence before the age of 18. One in every two children experience physical violence (smacking, whipping, burning, choking, trying to drown); one in four girls and one in 10 boys experience sexual violence; one in six girls and one in five boys experience emotional violence.
For example, a four-year-old girl was repeatedly raped by her teacher; a nine-year-old boy was thoroughly beaten up and then chained and locked up in seclusion by her father and step-mother, denied food or water for days; kids are bullied or even physically assaulted by others at school. How about 12- and 14-year-old female siblings who were continually raped and threatened by their father? House-helps in some cases vent their frustration on children, even babies and beat them up frequently. In some cases, little boys or girls are regularly put down by parent(s) or guardians with words like – “you are useless, I regret giving birth to you, you will never succeed; you will die in poverty like your parents; you are a never do well,” etc.
While over 60% of Nigerian children are affected, less than only 5% ever receive the service they need to recover because they mostly do not speak out about their sufferings.
Violence against children leads to mental distress, thought of suicide, low self-esteem, alcoholism, depression, inferiority complex, substance abuse, sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies, among other effects.
Children who experience sexual and physical violence in childhood are much more likely to perpetrate intimate partner violence in adulthood or see nothing wrong in doing same to their children or wards.
Failure to invest in checking violence against children leads to substantial socio-economic losses estimated at 2 – 8% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“When we think about the fact that children make up tomorrow and children grow into adulthood, then we begin to wonder the effect and the cost of VAC to the society. If 60% of our children are undergoing this, then we need to start asking ourselves what kind of adults are we hoping to produce, what kind of society are we hoping to produce,” queried Alabi, a Child Protection Specialist in UNICEF Bauchi Field Office.
Aside the President’s call, the statistics coupled with the ugly consequences of VAC on the individual and national development compelled Gombe State’s undertaking to protect the rights of her children with the support by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).
Speaking at the event, Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo warned that any individual or group of persons found perpetrating VAC would be made to face the wrath of the law. He called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), human rights activities, United Nations Agencies and other partners to redouble efforts towards stemming out the rising unacceptable cases of VAC.
“Children are the most important asset for the sustainable development of any society. I therefore call on parents, families, communities and the society at large to rise up to our responsibilities as regards to our children.”
“I would like to assure you that government would work assiduously towards implementing policies and programmes aimed at ending violence against children.
“This is an obligation we all owe our children in line with the rights guaranteed them in the 1999 constitution and other international treaties to which Nigeria is a signatory,” Governor Dankwambo affirmed.
Rabi Daniel, Commissioner, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare said the launch of the campaign underscored the importance Gombe State government attaches to the protection, survival, participation and development of children.
She said her Ministry on its part would continue to articulate programmes to build protective services and empower families to prevent as well as respond to any issue of VAC.
She made a passionate plea for the cooperation of the media, saying: “The campaign on ending violence against children must be consistent, continuous and carried out with passion for it to elicit action.”
Also pledging commitment, Gombe state Commissioner of Police, Austin Iwar vowed the Police preparedness to ensure that perpetrators of VAC are adequately punished according to the dictates of the law.
He said the Command was looking to collaborate with community and religious leaders, relevant state and Federal Governments agencies as well as the judiciary towards ensuring the success of the campaign.
Justice Hakeela Heman, Chief Judge of Gombe state who was represented by Justice Beatrice Iliya described the campaign as timely because of the high rate of violence against children in the state and country at large.
“Children are subjected to inhuman treatment and degradation like kidnapping, adoption, rape, sex slavery among others and they have no way of getting help. Unfortunately, most of these heinous crimes are committed in the name of culture and religion,” he said.
Ironically, Gombe State is yet to domesticate the Child Right Act, a development which many believe could hamper the fight against violence targeting children in the state.
