The United Nations Children’s ound (UNICEF) has said that the inactions of the Nigerian government on the fulfilment of children’s rights are huge.
It stated it was disheartening to note that Nigeria last sent in their report on the Child Rights Acts (CRA) to the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 2010.
Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF, Fatima Adamu, disclosed at a media dialogue on the “New Country Programme 2023-2027 and Status of Implement of the Child Rights Law (2003) in states.
She said that the report of the Child Rights Acts (CRA) to CRC is expected every five years, and Nigeria has not sent in hers in 13 years.
She said that the implication is that issues about children will not be in the limelight and this will cause them harm.
“It has been nearly eighteen years since Nigeria passed into law the Child Rights Act of 2003 which contains lofty aspirations and stipulated beneficial provisions for the Nigerian child.
“Children’s rights cover every aspect of the lives of children and adolescents, broken down into the following four categories: Survival rights: the right to life and to have the most basic needs met (like the adequate standard of living, shelter, nutrition, medical treatment); development rights.
The rights enabling children to reach their fullest potential (education, play and leisure, cultural activities, access to information and freedom of thought, conscience and religion); participation rights: rights that allow children and adolescents to take an active role in their communities (the freedom to express opinions, to have a say in matters affecting their own lives, to join associations); and protection rights: essential rights
for safeguarding children and
adolescents from all forms of abuse, neglect and exploitation (special care for refugee children,
protection against involvement in armed conflict areas,” she said.
