Children’s Day: Nigerians tasked on VAC

It is said that children in Nigeria are one of the most endangered species in the world.  As they celebrate their day tomorrow, the citizenry has been charged on the need to protect them from all forms of Violence Against Children (VAC), abuse, as well as raise awareness on “Ending Child Marriage” in Nigeria, ENE OSANG writes.

Children’s Day in Nigeria; celebrated march 27th yearly almost coinciding with Democracy Day should rings a bell to the Nigerian government and on the need to redouble efforts to cater for their needs most especially the vulnerable.
Giving the insecurity situation in the country the first image that comes to mind when children are mentioned is the missing Chibok school girls who have been under captivity of terrorists over two years now.
Recently, two of the missing girls have been found and Nigerians cannot but wished that all the girls are back, however it has risen lost hope that they would all return back someday, soon.
Stakeholders have argued that President Mohammadu Buhari’s first one year in office is favourable following his declaration of 2016 as the “Year of Action to End Violence Against Children in Nigeria”; and the African Union campaign to End Child Marriage in Africa.”

Briefing the press in Abuja, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan, said the theme for this year’s celebration “Protect the Rights of the Child in the Face of Violence and Insecurity: End Child Marriage” is timely.
According to her, the survey on VAC conducted in 2014 by the ministry and the National Population Commission with support of UNICEF indicated a high prevalence of sexual, physical and emotional violence against children in Nigeria, highlighting that very few children speak out their experiences, and fewer seek or receive service or justice.

“As we all know, the Nigerian society is currently battling with high incidences of Violence Against Children (VAC) ranging from child rape, defilement, abduction, kidnapping and baby farming. It takes place in the home, on the streets, in schools, at work place and child care institutions.
“Violence cuts across boundaries of age, race, culture and wealth. It is disheartening to note that most of these acts of VAC are perpetrated by adults who have the primary responsibility of providing necessary care and protection to children. Our efforts to end violence must start with the protection of our young ones, as every child has the right to freedom from violence,” she stressed.

She noted that following the directive by the federal government for states to launch their priority actions for preventing and responding to VAC Lagos state has taken the lead in launching its own campaign in February this year, while Kaduna and Cross River states have commenced the process.
To this end, the Minister appealed to stakeholders to commence effective implementation of their respective sector priority actions for addressing VAC, stressing that it will go a long way to bringing an end to acts of violence against children and entrench a better society for all.
“More worrisome is the issue of vulnerable children. They face significant barriers to enjoying their fundamental human rights.

They are often excluded from society; some of them live in facilities away from their homes.
“They are often denied access to basic services such as health, education and are exposed to discrimination, as well as sexual, physical and psychological violence,” she lamented.
Senator Alhassan urged all to redouble efforts to guarantee children’s rights to freedom from violence, everywhere and at all times, stating that the ministry is embarking on advocacy visits to states to advocate for full passage and implementation of the Child Rights Acts (CRA).
Commending Bayelsa state for passing the child rights law recently, she noted that a total of 24 states have complied, urging the remaining 12 states to pass the law in the interest of the children.
“We cannot talk about VAC without mentioning the abduction of the Chibok school girls. The unfortunate incident appears to be the cruelest form of VAC because the children are being subjected to different forms of inhuman and degrading treatment against their wishes.”
“In order to build a Nigeria fit for children, I enjoin you all to make efforts and come up with concrete actions to end VAC and child marriage knowing fully well that the cost of our inaction for every child, and the country’s social progress would be simply too great to bear,” she emphasized.
Chief Child Protection at UNICEF Rachel Anna Harvey, expressed satisfaction on the launch survey, and the year of action to end VAC, saying for the first time VAC was not seen as a social welfare issue, or just as a child rights issue but elevated to the issue of national progress.

Harvey maintained that putting the laws into place is just one step, stressing the importance of translating the them into action.
“Six out of ten children suffer one or more forms of violence; emotional, sexual or physical. One in two suffering physical violence aside spanking, smacking, there is choking, intentional burning, trying to drawn, punching and kicking. One in four girls, one in ten boys suffer sexual violence,one in five boys and one in six girls suffer emotional violence and most of the times none of these children tell anyone what happened to them,they get overwhelmed in shame with the stigma not knowing where to go to,” she said.

“What we see is a lot of people mobilising but I think breaking the silence is the first step, we need to sensitize the children that violence is not meant to be happening to them, we need to support all the government institutions increase resources to ensure that government institutions are able to fulfil their mandate as contained in the law and provide their service.
“The NGO’s should also play their part to mobilize community awareness and support services. They should ensure that awareness in the communities are raised and the communities collectively condemn violence also speak out because when they sprak out, we will believe you and support them,” she urged.