Foundation appeals to states on Child Right Act
Children
By Talatu Maiwada
Abuja, May 26, 2018(NAN)The African Children Emergency Foundation (ACEF) a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), has called on states yet to domesticate the Child Right Act to do so, to ensure that rights of children are adequately protected.
Mrs Uche Chuta, founder of the NGO made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, in Abuja, ahead of the 2018 Children’s day celebration scheduled for May 27.
Chuta called on government at all levels to make policies that will better the lives of children, especially through qualitative education.
“The Child Rights Act has been domesticated in some states, but we are asking that it should be domesticated in all the states of the federation.
“This is because our children hawk around, they get raped and brutally abused and violated on daily basis,’’ she said.
Chuta advocated that children should be educated and knowledgeable on their rights, so they could protect themselves from harmful cultural and social practice.
She also called on the Federal Ministry of Education to introduce the Child Right Act into schools’ curriculum to further help in educating children of their rights at the early stage of life.
“Our children need to know that when a man touches them in an indecent manner, it is against the right of a child.
“It is a big shame that these children are going through traumatic situations and cannot talk about it, because they have been intimidated into hiding the truth.
“However sex education should be taught by parents first, before any other person because the foundations are laid from the home.
“It is also painful that those who are supposed to take care of children are those abusing them, so they have nowhere to go,’’ Chuta said.
She urged government to make stringent laws that will protect children from harmful practice as well as proffer appropriate punishments for those found guilty of child abuse.
Chuta urged parents and guidance to be true role models to their children, urging them to be sincere in their lifestyles.
“Whatever we make of our children today is what they will become in the future,’’ she said. (NAN)
TIM/ABI
Edited by Ali Inuwa