EU URGES NIGERIAN GOVT TO STRENGTHEN CHILD RIGHTS AND PROTECTION. (PHOTO).
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EU Urges Nigerian Government to Strengthen Child Rights and Protection
The European Union (EU) has urged the Nigerian government to prioritize the protection and rights of children, emphasizing the need to shield them from all forms of discrimination and harm.
At the International Human Rights Day event, themed “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now – Advancing Rights and Protection for Children in Nigeria,” the EU highlighted the importance of safeguarding children’s welfare. The event was organized by the EU Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) Programme and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), marking the end of the 16 Days of Activism and the 2024 International Human Rights Day.
EU Ambassador-designate to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, urged Nigerian states to go beyond adopting the Child Rights Act and focus on its full implementation. Mignot emphasized the importance of funding and institutional support to address the needs of Nigerian children, ensuring they have access to education, healthcare, and social services.
Mignot also spoke about the EU's commitment to combating gender-based violence and safeguarding survivors through prevention and protection measures. He stressed that fostering a culture of human rights is essential for promoting democracy, the rule of law, and social justice.
Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, appealed to states yet to domesticate the Child Rights Act to do so promptly. He expressed concern over the widespread issues of child labour and the systemic failures in protecting children's rights. Kalu noted that despite the Child Rights Act of 2003, millions of children in Nigeria continue to suffer from abuse, neglect, and exploitation, with 11 states still not implementing the law.
Kalu highlighted the National Child Labour Survey of 2022, which revealed that 24 million Nigerian children are engaged in child labour, often in hazardous conditions, and reiterated the House of Representatives' commitment to improving children's rights and eradicating child labour in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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