Health
MS Carolyn Seaman, Co-chair of a coalition of Civil society organisations (CSOs) has called for a 100 per cent domestication of the Child Rights Act in the 36 statesof the Federation and the FCT to end child marriages and Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Seaman made the call at a one-day dialogue with traditional leaders working to end child marriages in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), reports that the dialogue was organised by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with the Development Research and Projects Centre and funded by the Ford Foundation.
”There are also gaps in the policy process that protects the rights of children from early marriages and other harmful practices, including GBV.
”Nieria has a large number of child brides. Some states in the country are yet to domesticate the act, which aims to protect children.
“Also, the act failed to indicate the age a child should get to before getting married, so we still have gaps with such laws.
“Various efforts have been made and more states have signed the act, but the concern now is the substance of the laws, especially in the northern states.
“However, more effort is required to mobilise action around domesticating the act to protect children across the country from child marriages,” Seaman said.
She urged the state governments to work with CSOs and other stakeholders, to know who was accountable for certain aspects and keep track of progress.
She also called for improvement in the coordination and harmonisation of efforts as stakeholders working in the space.
Also speaking, the representative of Africa Union, Ms Hermine Takam said that domesticating and implementing the act would go a long way in the country’s efforts to end child marriage.
Takam said statistics provided by the ministry of women’s affairs proved that many girls forced into early marriages do not getting justice.
She said there must be a strong government-led response and strategy to address the challenges.
In his remarks, the Jakadan Gusau, Alhaji Abdullahi Maiwada said marrying off a child at an early age has lots of negative health consequences.
Maiwada said stakeholders across the country must come together to end child marriage.
”The collaborative effort which involves working with traditional, religious and community leaders is required to end child marriages.
“It is also important to involve girls, women and their families in an all-encompassing programme where there is enlightenment and awareness on the dangers of getting married at an age,” Maiwada said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Pauline Tallen, said that 31 states in Nigeria have domesticated the act.
NAN act 2003 is the law that guarantees the rights of all children in Nigeria.
A UN report released by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said no fewer than 650 million women globally were married before their 18th birthday.
The report indicates that about 250 million of those married were coerced into the union before the age of 15.
It said although, boys are also married as children, the practice is more prevalent among girls, who are disproportionately affected.
Further more, data from UNICEF shows that 58 per cent of girls in Nigeria get married before their 18th birthday and 18 per cent before they turn 15.
According to the reports, Nigeria presently accounts for an estimated 22 million child brides, a figure that may increase by Seven million in the year 2050. (NAN)
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