Health
AN NGO, Kishimi Shelter and Care Foundation, has said that the non-domestication of the Child’s Rights Act (CRA) in Gombe State was increasing the vulnerability of children to abuse across the state.
The Executive Director of the NGO, Mrs Grace Samuel, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe on Friday, appealed to the state government to revisit efforts at domesticating the Act.
Samuel, who said that the rights of children in the state would be better protected with the law in place, said more children were being exposed to abuse by the absence of the law.
She described the absence of the CRA in the state as “heart-breaking” considering how things went in 2021, adding that by the state and other stakeholders should have concluded this issue.
According to her, it is not an easy task to protect children going through a series of abuses without such a vital legal document in force.
“This is why we are appealing for a revisit of all efforts geared toward concluding issues around domesticating the CRA because it is long overdue.”
She explained that no matter how hard the society tried to protect children in the state, it would be difficult without the Child’s Right Law being operated.
According to her, the Child’s Right Law is to do what is right and just for children that have been subjected to abuses of different kinds.
The child rights’ advocate stated that the absence of the law had increased violence against children.
She said, “The worrisome thing is that no one is saying anything about the Act.
“There have been series of efforts by the state government and all stakeholders in the state but the truth is, until we sign and domesticate the Act, nothing will really matter.”
Samuel said that with the “loud silence” from the government coupled with the events building up to the 2023 general elections, the bill might be “buried for a long time; this is our worry and a cause for concern.”
She added that children were still facing challenges of rape and abuses, hence, the need for stakeholders to renew calls for the domestication of the Act in the state.
She appealed to parents to ensure that children within their care got proper education to empower them for the future.
“An educated child is always better placed to contribute to national development,” he said.
Samuel, while commending journalists and all stakeholders for their efforts at ensuring the domestication of the CRA, called for more awareness in that regard.
NAN reports that the Gombe State House of Assembly had on Tuesday passed the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) to help curb violence against women in the state.
NAN also reports that Kishimi Care and Shelter Foundation is a non-governmental organisation that envisions a society where women and young children are empowered for all round development.
This is achieved through partnership with people and groups who share similar visions of promoting social protection and the wellbeing of their target groups, vulnerable children and women. (NAN)
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Tags: Grace Samuel Kishimi Shelter and Care Foundation
