Girl Child Day: Activist wants child right enforced at grassroots
NAN-HG-15
Rights
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Abuja, Oct. 11, 2016 (NAN) Miss Charity Anaja, a child right activist with Dorcas Tabitha Foundation, on Tuesday called for more enforcement of the child right Act at the grassroots.
Anaja told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that 23 out of 36 states at various stages were yet to implement and enforce the laws.
“We want to commend the efforts of government for commitment to protecting, promoting and preserving the rights of the children by ratification of the convention rights of the child.
“These laws have to an extent reduced the challenges of the girl child in terms of the violence, exploitation and discrimination as a whole,’’ she said.
Anaja called on relevant stakeholders to partner in ensuring that the girl child in the country had access to free and quality education especially in the rural areas.
She said others include access to quality healthcare and information, access to legal representation and enforcement of those laws that fight violence against women.
“The patriarchal culture that brings down women should be set aside so that women can have enough self esteem to complement the men and become societal assets.
“Parents have a role in redefining the values placed on the girl child at the home front, girls should not be merely seen as future wives and mother’s but as persons with unique and rich potentials.
“They should be given opportunities for self actualisation and fulfilment,’’ Anaja said.
She called for the need to change some wrong perception of the girl child through the media, entertainment, religion and culture.
Anaja said the male counterparts should see women as partners and major stakeholders in moving the nation forward and not stumbling blocks.
She said if the women were given the relevant opportunities, they would add value in the decision making process.
The activist said the child right act on education, health, values reorientation, information and representation should be taken to the grassroots. (NAN)
OEO/MST/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola