Abuja – Mrs Uche Chuta , the President, African Children Emergency Foundation (ACEF), an NGO, on Friday, said violence and abuse totally affect a child’s development, dignity, physical and psychological integrity.
Chuta made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja as the world mark the 2015 Universal Children’s Day.
She said that children in every country, culture and at every social level faced various forms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence.
She added that “abuse takes place at home, in school, institutions, at work, in the community, among others.’’
The ACEF president urged all states of the federation to domesticate the Child Right Act to ensure that the rights of children were adequately protected.
She recognised the importance of a child and frowned at the killing of children, the increased rape cases and those brutally abused and violated on daily basis.
She called for policies to be put in place to protect them against harmful cultural and social practices.
According to her, there is need for a child’s right to be domesticated because every child has the right to life, health, education, family, life, as well as protection from violence and discrimination.
“The Child Rights Act has been domesticated in some states but we are asking that it should be domesticated in the states that have not complied.
“This is because our children are slain, raped and brutally abused and violated on daily basis.
“We also want the government to put measures to ensure that it is implemented without delay,’’ she said.
Chuta said children should be educated and knowledgeable on their rights so that they could protect themselves from harmful cultural and social practices.
She, however, urged the Ministry of Education to introduce the teaching of the Child Rights Act in schools, to further help in educating children on their rights at early stage.
“Our children need to know that when a man touches them in an indecent manner, it is a violation of their right.
“It is a big shame what these children go through, the trauma and yet cannot talk about it because of the conditions in the society that forces them to hide the truth.
“It is also painful that those who are supposed to take care of them are those abusing them, so they have nowhere to go.
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“Government should make stringent policies that will protect our children from harmful practices and proffer appropriate punishments for perpetrators of such crime, ’’ Chuta stressed.
She also urged government, parents and stakeholders to protect children from violence and abuse because they would be the future leaders of the nation.
NAN reports that the aim of the UN Universal Children’s Day is to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improve children’s welfare. (NAN)