One in Two Naija Children experience Physical Violence-UNICEF
Kaikai spoke
in Bauchi Thursday at a media briefing to mark the 2017 edition of Children’s
Day with the theme: “Child Protection and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
Issues and Opportunities,” observing that the violence was prevalent across the
36 states of Nigeria.
He said: “According
to the findings of the 2014 Nigeria violence against children survey conducted
by the National Population Commission with the support of the United Centers
for Disease Control and UNICEF, approximately six out of every 10 children also
experience some form of violence.”
He added:
“One in four girls and one in 10 boys experience sexual violence as well as one
in six girls and one in five boys experience emotional violence by a parent,
caregiver or adult relative.”
Kaikai
called on all stakeholders in the country to take action to end violence
against children in the country.
He said
preventing violence against children was not just a legal obligation and a
moral imperative but that the failure to prevent it would lead to substantial economic
loses (estimated at 2-8%GDP). He explained that ending violence against
children had been linked to sustainable growth in the National Priority Agenda
for Vulnerable Children 2013-2010 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
“So on the
occasion of this year’s Nigeria Children’s Day, all must take action to end
violence against children,” he urged Nigerians, calling on Adamawa, Bauchi,
Gombe, Jigawa, Plateau and Taraba states that are supported by the UNICEF
Nigeria Bauchi Field Office to take action to end violence against children.
UNICEF also
called on the states that had yet to enact the Child Right Law to pass the
laws.
Kaikai said UNICEF would continue to support
the government and all stakeholders to end violence against children, protect
and realise their rights, adding that it was consistent with its mandate given
by UN General Assembly in 1946 when it voted to establish UNICEF as the agency
for children.”
Meanwhile,
the Senate yesterday urged the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social
Development, to pursue the domestication of the Child Rights Acts in the 13
states that was yet to do so.
The Senate
said this was necessary to ensure that the rights of Nigerian children are
adequately protected as well as give children opportunities to participate in
matters that concern their welfare.
Senators
also called for re-orientation of young ones to focus on inculcation of moral
values, ethics and patriotism.
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