500 Nigerian children abused at IDP camps in four months – UN Women Country Rep

The UN Women, Country Representative, Ms Comfort Lamptey, on Thursday disclosed that 500 children in various Internally Displaced Camps (IDP) were abused between January and April.

She said children are being abused on daily basis at the makeshift camps.

Lamptey revealed this at an event to commemorate Day of the African Child organised by PLAN International and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Abuja. It was themed: “Leave No Child Behind for Africa’s Development”.

The Country Representative, who was represented by Mrs. Patience Ekeeba, identified need for the government to ensure protection of children right.

She said there are ongoing plans to unveil a new project to advocate protection of children right and reduce child marriage in the country.

“We need to reflect about children who are in extremely in endangered environment like the North East. I can assure you that the so many things that you hear are not even as they are, the situation is worse than it is presented.

“Also children who are still in hostage of their captors, those who are living in IDP camps, a lot of them are malnourished. There is so much happening in the camps. UN women will like to think about those that are abused as we celebrate the African Child’s Day; the situation in the camps is worse. Everyday a child is abused. I was told that between January and April, there were 500 cases of abuse reported and also those who are given out as brides and those living with disability….” She said.

Earlier, NHRC Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the National Child Protection and Enforcement Bill (2018).

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He said the Presidential assent became imperative to properly protect rights of children with disabilities, displaced children and those who are abused on daily basis.

He appealed to state governments yet to adopt the Child Rights Act to expedite action towards domesticating the law.

The ES, who decried critical human rights abuses meted to children in the nation, tasked the federal and state governments to prioritise child rights in their respective budgets in areas such as education, health, food, shelter, water as well as disability.

“We call for the speedy passage of the national child protection and enforcement agency bill 2018 which is currently awaiting Presidential assent.

“Prioritization of the rights of children living with disabilities and other vulnerable conditions in national policy and planning as well as the adoption of disability-friendly structures in the community,” Ojukwu said.

In his remarks, PLAN Country Director, Dr. Hussaini Abdu emphasised need to consider child’s right in policy formulation and implementation.

Abdu, represented by the Head of Programmes and Business Development, Dr. Orji Ogbureke, said partnering with the NHRC became necessary considering the constitutional mandate of the commision and need to help Nigerian children to learn, lead, decide and thrive.

“Nigerian Children must participate and be drivers of change. They must be protected and supported to grow and thrive,” he said.

National Children Parliament further called on the government to ensure children are protected.

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