NGO seeks domestication of Child Rights Act to end rape, child labour

Fri, Jun 12, 2020
By publisher
3 MIN READ

Women

AN NGO, Netete Initiative, has called for the domestication of the Child Rights Act to end child labour and all forms of violence against women and children in the country.

The NGO made the call while briefing newsmen on Friday in Abuja in commemoration of the World Day Against Child Labour, celebrated every June 12.

The President of the organisation, Mrs Rose Gold-Idehen, said that domestication of the Act was important, especially in states that were yet to implement it.

Gold-Idehen decried the spates of abuse and violence against women and girls in the society, saying it had increased tremendously during the COVID-19 lockdown.

She called on the Federal Government, Civil Society Organisations and other stakeholders to sensitise states that have not domesticated the Act, to adopt it to address violence and other forms of abuse.

“States that have not yet domesticated the Child Rights Act should do so urgently for effective protection of the girl-child rights.

“It is a pity that some states are yet to domesticate the act because it shows that they lack adequate understanding of the children’s need.

‘” I advise that those states should have a rethink on the Act because their inaction is having effect on the average Nigerian child,” she said.

She noted that children were more at risk and exposed to sexual violence, criminal tendencies and other related offences, when they engaged in child labour.

According to her, it is important for the government to compel all states in the federation to adopt the Child Right Act.

Gold-Idehen also called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency over the increasing cases of sexual violence against women and the girls.

She called for investigations and prosecutions of sex offenders and their accomplices.

“We demand justice for all victims of sexual violence. We encourage our women and girls to report all cases of violence against them, no matter how closely related the perpetrator is to them, ” she said.

Also speaking, the NGO’s Secretary, Justice Gladys Olotee, disclosed that the organisation had recently empowered women and girls in Edo through advocacies, education and donations.

Olotee condoled with the families of Miss Uwaila Omozuwa, who was raped and killed in Edo, while studying in preparation for school resumption.

She, therefore, encouraged parents and the society to focus on the training of the male child, who was also victims and perpetrators of Gender Based Violence (GBV).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Day Against Child Labour is to create more awareness and activism that will prevent child labour and its effects on the child.

The 2020 theme for the day is, “COVID-19 – Protect children from child labour now, more than ever”. (NAN)

– Jun. 12, 2020 @ 17:35 GMT |

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