By Adeola Tukuru Abuja
Th e federal government, through the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Social Development Secretariat, in partnership with United States Agency for International Department (USAID), is set to launch a document that will stop violence and all forms of abuses against children. Th e Acting Secretary, Social Development Secretariat, Irene Elegbede, told newsmen yesterday in Abuja that this became necessary following the prevalence of Violence Against Children (VAC) across the country.
Elegbede, who was represented by the Acting Director of the Gender Department, FCTA, Mrs. Hart Agnes,.explained that the document had contributions from civil society organisation, religious and traditional institutions as well as government ministries and agencies. She said report showed that 60 per cent of children often experience one or diff erent types of violence before the age of 18. According to her, “six out of every 10 children are subjected to some forms of violence every year and the majority of them, who experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence in childhood reported multiple cases. “Violence against children remains widespread, invisible and socially condoned”, she added. She further explained that the state priority actions set out the short term and long term strategies to be implemented in the FCT in response to the fi ndings of VAC in order to eff ectively prevent and respond to violence against children.
