Aisha Ahmed
Kaduna – Child rights groups have converged on Kaduna to push for the domestication of the Child Rights Act in 12 states in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria [NAN] reports that the groups are meeting under the aegis of Youthhub Africa with support from Malala Foundation.
It is the first Child Rights Bill Advocacy Programme organised for stakeholders to advocate for the domestication of the Act by 11 states in the North and one from the Eastern part of the country.
In a presentation, Mr Rotimi Olawole of Youthhub Africa, highlighted the urgent need to support and advocate for the states to sign the Child Rights Bill into law.
He said that children as the most vulnerable group in every society, needed protection against exploitation, harassment and abuse, which the law would provide.
“The States that are yet to domesticate the Act are Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Yobe, Kaduna, Kano, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina and Enugu.”
Earlier, an official of Youthhub Africa, Mr Segun Medupin, in a welcome address, expressed optimism that the three-day workshop would provide a strong network of advocates in the concerned states.
NAN reports that the Child Rights Act was signed into law in Nigeria since 2013 and was expected to be domesticated by the 36 states in the country.
The law principally provides protection to children from all forms of abuse and enshrined their rights to education and protection.