As Nigeria and the world celebrate Children’s Day on May 27 | By Yinka Ojo
Two Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Niger Delta Child Rights Watch Project and the Calabar-based Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, have called on the government to ensure children across the nation enjoy right of access to justice.
Dr. Emilie Secker, spokesperson for the Niger Delta Child Rights Watch Project, in a statement released on Thursday, said state governments need to take the lead in making sure child rights laws are properly implemented in the country.
According to Secker, the government will ensure children rights are protected if all states in Nigeria enact the 2003 Child Rights Act, and also establish family courts so that children are fully supported to seek justice for any abuse of their rights.
“Sadly, the case data from our Niger Delta Child Rights Watch Project has also shown that many police and child welfare officers in the various Ministries of Women Affairs are not properly equipped to give appropriate support to children who have suffered horrors like rape, abandonment and violence,” Secker said.
“We therefore call upon the Nigerian government to ensure that the police and other relevant government officers are given sufficient training and resources so that they understand the principles of the Child Rights Act and are able to apply these effectively to investigating and charging cases of child abuse in practice.
“At the moment, very few cases of abuse ever reach court, and those who abuse children rarely face justice for their crimes. This needs to change if Nigeria is going to show the world that it is committed to the principles of justice, human rights and the rule of law.”
Barrister James Ibor of the Calabar-based NGO Basic Rights Counsel Initiative explained that family courts were established in Cross River State in 2011.
“We have already seen how genuine government commitment and action can have a hugely positive impact on child rights protection,” he said.
“Here in Cross River State, where the Child Rights Act is in place and the family courts were established in 2011, we recently achieved a groundbreaking prosecution for child rights abuse. This has not only provided justice for the child, but also sent a clear message that abusing the rights of any child is against Nigerian law. I truly believe that all children in Nigeria deserve this protection and that other states need to follow the lead of the Cross River State government in this regard.”
Yinka has taught at various levels of education. He has published a textbook on effective teaching practice and several academic papers in reputable journals. He is currently an education consultant. He loves writing, poetry, music and is presently working on a musical album billed to be released into the market soon.
