African Child Day: CBAAC canvasses for implementation of child-friendly justice system

Tue, Jun 16, 2020
By publisher
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Youth

THE Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC) has called for the implementation of a child-friendly justice system in Africa as cases of child-rape,labour and sexual violence increased across the continent.

The Director overseeing the office of the Director-General of CBAAC, Mrs Osaro Osayande made the call in a statement, in commemoration of the Day of African Child (DAC) on Tuesday.

The theme for the 2020 edition of DAC is: “Access to a Child Friendly Justice System in Africa”.

Osayande also appealed to stakeholders at all levels to put effective measures in place to curb the rising cases of sexual violence in the country.

She said it was time for African leaders to work unanimously in implementing a child-friendly justice system to restore hope and confidence in every African child.

” CBAAC lends its voice against all forms of sexual violence, including rape, the centre is in support of the implementation of a Child-friendly justice system across the continent.

” Rape is a traumatic experience which causes psychological, emotional and physical pains to its victims, together with its adverse effect.

” We appeal to stakeholders at all levels to put in place effective measures to curb the rising cases of sexual violence in Nigeria,” she said.

Osayande said that as a cultural agency, CBAAC had in the past raised its voice against societal ills that negate the good tenets of African cultural values, through its numerous children programmes.

She urged parents and stakeholders to provide children with appropriate education as education was a human right and children deserved good education to be successful in life.

” We say No to Rape for a Better Africa!

” Indeed, this year’s DAC celebration calls for serious introspection and commitment towards addressing the numerous challenges facing children across the continent.

” We felicitate with African children on a special day like this,” she said.

The Director said that regrettably, due to COVID-19 pandemic, the centre would not be able to mark the 2020 event with its usual activities.

She said that the centre will participate in the webinar meeting organised by the African Union Commission seeking to examine the elements of a child-friendly justice system in Africa.

Thousands of black school children took to the streets in Soweto, South Africa on June 16, 1976, to protest discriminatory educational policies by the South African government and to demand their right to be taught in their own language.

Hundreds of them were shot down in what became known as the “Sharpeville Massacre”, and in the two weeks of protests that followed, more than a hundred people were killed and more than a thousand injured.

Hence, the DAC is aimed at remembering these children and the brave action they took to claim their right as well as celebrate the entire Children of Africa who have endured one form of challenge or the other in the course of their growth.

Osayande said three decades down the line, children across Africa were still faced with varied forms of societal challenge that have hampered their safe growth and development.

She said among other societal ills, was the uncontrollable spate of sexual violence, manifesting in the form of rape, inflicted on the African child, including women and girls.

” These are sad realities particularly in Nigeria and some parts of the continent and this is the reason African leaders must unanimously implement child-friendly justice system for the African children,” she said.

NAN

– June 16, 2020 @ 09:15 GMT |

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