NAN-HG-1
Girl-child
By Ajibola Olaniyi
Osogbo, Nov. 2, 2016 (NAN) An NGO, Girl-Child Rights Awareness Initiative, has called on government at all levels to protect the girl-child against all forms of abuse.
Mrs Tope Awe, the Executive Director of the initiative, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Osogbo.
Awe, commenting on the spate of human
trafficking in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, said that the menace, as it affects girl-child was regarded as a crime against humanity.
According to her, many callous and unscrupulous elements now found a
good business in trafficking young girls abroad to be used as sex slaves and subject them to other inhuman treatment.
“It is indeed a paradox that those who needed to be protected and treated with care are now being treated with disdain and callousness all in the name of money.
“It is unfortunate that many of the young girls are now vulnerable to sex slavery and hard labour in the hands of those criminals that posed as their messiah and promised them better life.
“Our society is so polarised that instead of increasing the degree of exportation of domestic goods to boost the economy, it is the exportation of innocent children that some individuals do as business.
“Until governments rise up against this madness and use appropriate legislation to deter the perpetrators, there is looming danger ahead as the nation’s motherhood is being destroyed.
“Every nation that worth its salt jealously protect its motherhood for the purpose of continuity and nation-building.
“It is one issue that needs to be taken seriously by the governments,’’ she said. (NAN)
DOO/GOK
Edited by Olagoke Olatoye