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A PAPER PRESENTED BY MRS.
NOGI IMOUKHUEDE ON THE THEME-
VIOLENCE AGAINST AFRICAN CHILDREN WORRIES UNICEF
The Punch- Friday June 16 2006
Segun Olugbile
As Nigeria joins the world to celebrate this year’s day of the
African Child, the United Nations Children’s Fund has called for
concerted efforts to protect the continent’s children from violence
and sexual abuse.
UNICEF’s position was contained in a statement by its Chief
Communication , Media and external Relations Officer in Nigeria
Country Office, Christine Jaulmes .According to Jaulmes, in spite of
efforts to rescue the African Child from physical, emotional and
sexual abuse, violence has continued to spoil the lives of children on
the continent. Jaulmes said, ‘In homes, schools and residential
institutions across the continent, children are subjected to abuse.
Those living on the street face incessant gang violence and brutality,
often at the hands of the police. In places of work, children toil in
harmful and dangerous conditions where they face abuse and economic
exploitation.’
The UNICEF spokesperson added that each year, an estimated three
million women and girls undergo Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), a
traditional practice that that exposes females and babies to risk of
death during child birth The statement added that in West and Central
Africa, thousands of children are trafficked ever year, while sexual
violence and rape of children ‘appears to be spiralling, inexcusably
fuelled by armed conflicts, extreme poverty and HIV/AIDS. In Kenya,
46% of the women population experienced sexual violence in childhood
while one in four girls aged between 12 and 24 years lost their
virginity by force,’ the statement added.
Dear Networkers,
Thursday the 15th of June was the day of the African Child
and the Edo State Government through its Ministry of Women’s Affairs
celebrated the occasion. In attendance were school children from
various primary schools, government officials and the newly
constituted Edo State Children’s Parliament who are lobbying for the
domestication of the Child Rights Act 2003 into State law. I was a
guest speaker and I presented a paper titled ‘Right to Protection:
Stop violence against children.’ My paper is posted on our website
which you can read on our website at
www.rufarm.kabissa.org. The Commissioner for Women Affairs Hon
Florence Gbinigie Erhabor is a committed women’s rights activist and
she is making an impact in the upliftment of the status of women and
children in Edo State, Nigeria.
Nogi Imoukhuede,
Project Coordinator,
Women's Rights Watch Nigeria-www.rufarm.kabissa.org |