Worried by the increasing cases of cruelty against children across the country, the Kuje area council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), recently embarked on a sensitisation programme on the consequences of the alarming rate of violence against vulnerable persons. Based on its report tagged: National Priority Agenda for Vulnerable Children, DONALD IORCHIR writes on the Council’s efforts
Rape of minors
There is a noticeable increase in violence against vulnerable children throughout the country. With rape of minors as well as cruelty against minors taking place almost everywhere in the country, on a daily bases the public is outraged.
The high prevalence level especially of sexually abused children calls for national concern and a concerted effort by all to check the menace before it becomes a serious national problem.
According to a national survey on reported incidences of violence against children, the authorities saddled with the task of tackling the ill are overwhelmed already. Cases abound in the east, west, south-south and norThern parts of Nigeria of barefaced abuse, violence and cruelty by adult members of families, relations and even parents, against vulnerable children.
Culprits go about unpunished
Most of these cases are unreported and the culprits go about unpunished. Even in the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Abuja, the situation is not different, as some local communities in the remote areas of the territory still throw away twins or sacrifice them to native gods in the belief that twins are evil and a sign of anger or punishment from the gods.
Prevalence level
The result of a recent survey tagged the “National Priority Agenda for Vulnerable Children” commissioned by the federal government with the backing of foreign aid agencies such as the UNICEF, US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, among several others, provided startling insight into the prevalence level, nature and consequences of physical, emotional and sexual violence against children. According to a document produced from the study, “violence has a serious impact on young boys’ and girls’ lives and future.
“Compared to persons who never experienced childhood aggression, physical violence against children is associated with higher rates of mental distress, thoughts of suicide, sexually transmitted diseases and substance abuse.”
The document defined vulnerable children as those living in poor households.
These also include children deprived of family or primary caregivers, children on the streets and children infected by STDs.
Impoverished, sexually abused children
The study shows that others are those living with parents or relations who are suffering from AIDS or other chronic illnesses and are impoverished, as well as children who are abused or neglected and children living in households where the breadwinners have died. Those who engage in this despicable act do so for several misguided reasons which include the belief that deflowering a teenager increases the sexual prowess of a man in bed and enhances his access to wealth or material abundance.
Speaking during the Operational Planning of Quality Improvement & Child Rights Act 2018, for SMILE project in Kuje Area Council, Abuja FCT, the desk officer for orphan and vulnerable children, social welfare unit, Education Department, Kuje Area Council Abuja, Mrs. Ogbu Oyibo Margaret, said that violence against children (VAC), is not just a child protection or child rights issue, but a moral imperative.
Failure to tackle violence against children
She stated that failure to tackle violence against children leads to substantial social and economic losses estimated at 2.8% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). She said there is also a growing evidence based, to demonstrate the prevalence violence, she said the prevention of and effective response to violence against children was linked to the sustainable development of Nigeria, as a nation.
According to all children are safe from abuse, violence, and neglect is one of the six commitments of the national priority agenda for vulnerable children being planned. During the quality improvement planning for child rights act in Kuje, the group was divided into six commitments.
Commitment 1: All Poor and Vulnerable Children have equitable access and benefit from comprehensive social services
Priority Area
A comprehensive and integrated social protection system is operational and available to all eligible families throughout Nigeria, All children in poor and vulnerable households receive social assistance grants.
Commitment 2: All children are safe from abuse, violence, exploitation and neglect
Priority Area
All vulnerable children in Niger benefit from strengthened quality care, protection and social support services, All Children in Niger benefit from a sensitive and enabling legal and justice system.
Commitment 3: Children are healthy and well-mentioned
Priority Area
Under 5 Malnutrition rates reduced to 10%, Infant U5 and maternal mortality rate reduced to 15/1000,22/1000 and 70/1000 respectively.
Commitment 4: Vulnerable children have equitable access to benefit from quality basic education (ECCDE, Primary, Lower Secondary)
Priority Area
All children access quality ECCDE, All children complete 6 years of primary school. All children complete 3 years of lower secondary school.
Commitment 5: Vulnerable children have adequate standard of living conditions
Priority Area
All children live in housing with safe water, 5.2 80% of children live in housing with improved latrine facilities, orphans and children deprived of primary caregivers benefit from quality care in a family like environment that meets each individual child’s specific needs and conditions, At least 50% of children in poor and vulnerable families live in decent and adequate housing.
Commitment 6: All children have an identity
Priority Area
All children are registered at birth and have official documentation, all children have access to deceased parents death certificates if required.
Ogbu said the making of this plan resulted from the cooperative team work of all members of the Technical Working Group (TWG), with support of USAID, Sustainable Mechanism for Improving Livelihoods and Household Empowerment (SMILE) project. She expressed appreciation to SMILE project, and Kuje Area Council Administration for consistent support to improve lives of the children.
SMILE which stands for Sustainable Mechanism for Improving Livelihoods and Household Empowerment, which was designed to scale up and improve, through comprehensive, sustainable and coordinated intervention programmes, the welfare of caregivers, their households and wards.
SMILE programme
The SMILE programme has the backing of the federal government and the tacit support of international agencies, such as Action Aid, the American International Health Alliance [AIHA], and UNICEF, among others, and would tackle face on the issues encouraging violence against minors throughout the country.
Throwing more light on the need for every Nigerian to stand up in support of vulnerable children,
FCT SMILE Programme Coordinator, Mrs. Helen Netugu, said the sensitization meeting on violence against children held recently in FCT Area Councils, was to prepare grounds for the domestication of the programme in the territory. She urged the government to release funds punctually to social welfare ministries and units in charge of child welfare, to enable them properly carry out their tasks of caring for vulnerable children.
