Politics
AN NGO, Save the Children International and the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Gombe State, have called for the domestication of the Child Rights Act, to curb the menace of rape.
The organisations made the call in Gombe on Wednesday, at a media roundtable meeting organised by the Save the Children to highlight issues on child marriage and rape in the state.
Mr Akpan Effiong, Coordinator, Community Engagement and Advocacy, Save the Children International, said that domestication of the Child Rights Act was imperative to address issues of rape in the state.
According to Effiong, until the Child Rights Act is passed, it will be difficult to enforce justice, which is key to child protection.
“We cannot rest until there are implementations of laws to fight such sexual violence in the society. But if the laws are not there, protecting children becomes difficult,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hajia Zariyatu Abubakar, Coordinator, Coalition of CSO in the state, condemned the high rate of rape cases and other acts of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the state.
“Records available to us show that from March 2020 to date, about 26 cases were officially reported, out of which 23 cases have been charged to court, while others are being investigated,” Abubakar said.
Abubakar said that the group was working towards the establishment of Sexual Assault Referral Centre, to provide support services for victims of rape and other forms of abuse.
“The support will be in terms of psycho-social, referral for legal and health services,” she said.
She appealed to the executive arm of government to hasten the domestication of the act, to hasten establishment of a legal framework for prevention and administration of justice on rape and GVB. (NAN)
– Jun. 10, 2020 @ 15:35 GMT |
Tags: Rape: NGOs seek domestication of Child Rights Act in Gombe
