NAN-H-92
Parents
Bauchi, June 22, 2017 (NAN) Managing Director of Bauchi Radio Corporation (BRC), Mrs Jummai Bello, said some parents in the state were not helping matters in the fight to ensure the protection of the rights of their children.
Bello, who is also the former Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA) in the state, stated this in her remarks at an event organised in Bauchi on Thursday to commemorate the Day of the African Child.
“Lots of things are happening to our children and because there is no legislation to protect them adequately, such as the ‘Child Rights Act’, they are voiceless.
“In the newsroom, you get stories that border on the violation of rights of children, such as rape or domestic violence, yet parents of affected children will be the ones to insist that the story should not be aired.
“Some of them (parents) exert enormous pressure for the stories to be killed because of their fear of stigmatization of the victims, especially the minors.
“It hurts to see some news items on domestic violence, rape and other forms of social vices being dropped because of the pressure and pleas of parents, out of their fear for stigmatization, and to also protect the child against discrimination,” she lamented.
She therefore called for vigorous enlightenment drive by stakeholders on the need for people to accept the domestication and implementation of the Child Rights Act in the state.
“Stakeholders such as Civil Society Organizations (CSO), UNICEF, Ministry for Women Affairs and Journalists, must play their roles towards ensuring that the law comes into effect,” she said.
In her remarks, Chairperson, House Committee on Women Affairs and Child Development, Bauchi State House of Assembly, Mrs Maryam Bagel, promised to prevail on her colleagues to call for public hearing on the domestication of the Child Rights Act.
According to her, contents of the law need to be articulated by the public, adding that stakeholders must intensify sensitization campaign for the exercise to be successful.
“Most parents misconceive the Child Right Act, therefore, religious, traditional and community leaders must be sensitized to accept the domestication of the law.
“The common misconception is that the law will encourage the child to drag his parents to court, and so people are not comfortable with it.
“The Child Right Act will contain responsibilities of the child to his parents and community, and vice-versa, and will be domesticated to tally with the norms and values of the community,” she assured.
AE/ASH/ASH