Senator I. D. Gyang Calls For Enforcement Of Child’s Rights Act On Childrens Day, 2020.
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark this year’s Children’s Day, Senator I. D. Gyang of Plateau North says it affords the opportunity to focus on the Implementation of the Child’s Rights Act, 2003.
The Senator says the Child’s Rights Act targets the best interests of the Child to be of paramount consideration in all actions. In essence, it requires a Child to be given protection and care necessary for his well being.
In addition to the inalienable rights in Chapter 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), there are rights that are exclusive to the child as embedded in the Child’s Rights Act, with attendant and consequential sanctions against breach and non compliance. In a statement signed by Musa Ibrahim Ashoms,
Special Assistant
Media & Protocol to
Senator I. D. Gyang, esq.
27/05/2020.
The Act entitles a child to amongst others;
-Right to dignity.
-Right to health and health services.
-Right to free, compulsory and universal education.
-Right to special protection from abuse and exploitation such as child marriage, sexual abuse, exploitative labour, violence, indecent exposure and suchlike.
Senator Gyang says a major avenue through which the rights of the child can be enforced and further guaranteed is to make the provisions of Chapter 4 of the CFRN 1999 obligatory and justiceable as it relates and applies to the child.
Senator Gyang says he endorses the criminalization of the Almajiri practices and conduct by the Kaduna State government as it will go a long way in restoring the dignity of the child and curbing illiteracy when the children return to formal education.
He urges all states to implement the provisions of the Act to the later.
Senator Gyang says the evils of terrorism, insurgency and banditry has done a lot of violence and havoc to the Nigerian child as they are not spared from the heartless killings in communities that have been reduced to rubbles by killer bandits. Protecting the rights of the affected children requires the safety and security of all communities vulnerable to such attacks. Better still, decisive action against perpetrators by government is necessary and non negotiable.
The Senator says that for the rights of the Nigerian child to be fully realised, concerted effort by government, law enforcement agencies and the judiciary must be given effect. Citizens must also take responsibility at the family and community level if we are to raise a generation of children that are well educated, socially protected and catered for health wise, only then can they truly become the pride of the nation and the future leaders we yearn for.
Senator Gyang wishes all Nigerian children safety against the plague of COVID-19 and salutes them all on the occasion of Children’s Day, 2020.(outlook media).