By Ene Osang
Abuja
Sexual Offences Awareness and Victims Rehabilitation (SOAR), a child protection- based non-governmental organisation (NGO), has emphasised the need for schools to have policies that “provide guidelines for their staff, to enable them create safe environments for children, particularly the girl-child.”
Its Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Chinyere Eyoh, made the call yesterday in Abuja at a training workshop for Network of Civil Society Organisations against Child Trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) held on the theme “Securing Justice and Support for Sexually Abused Children in FCT.”
According to her, the child right protection policies would protect both child and staff, adding that it will clearly define what action is required in order to keep children safe and ensure consistency of behaviour.
She canvassed for adequate trainings for law enforcement agencies on sexual related children cases, and charged them to rise up to the responsibility of protecting the rights of children.
She also called on NGOs to break stereotypes that could promote sexual offences against children.
“Stereotypes about sexual abuse and violence are harmful because they lead to victims blaming and dismissing or minimising a person’s experience.
“This stereotypes can also intensity survivors shame and guilt, increase their feelings of isolation and make it less likely to receive the help. It doesn’t have anything to do with the way or dress, or where the person went, each of us has control over our own self and we can choose how we respond to situation,” she said.
Earlier, the Coordinator of Child and Youth Protection Foundation, Mr. Kolawole Olatosimi, called for more advocacies for state government yet to domesticate the Child Rights Act to comply as it would protect the rights of children.
Meanwhile, Executive Director, HOPE-AID Organisation, Mrs. Ruth Ataguba, has stressed the need for multi sectoral approach in dealing with issues concerning children.
One of the participants, Mrs. Maureen Amaechi, said the training would improve their knowledge on child protection and how to handle cases child sexual abuse.
