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Hajia Nimat Labaika, the Executive Director of Fulfilling Dreams Foundation, on Friday in Ilorin called on Kwara Government and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the Child Right Law passed in 2006 is implemented.
Labaika made the call during the one day Advocacy Seminar on Child Right Law and Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Government Engagement.
She stated that the programme is to engage relevant stakeholders and policy makers in order to elicit information as regards the the implementation of child right law.
According to her, the law has been passed for the past 16 years, however the law is at zero implementation level.
“We have the law in place, but the structures to enable the law to work is not there, so the project looks at the strategy out in place and explore ways of ensuring full implementation of the law.
“There is no way we can do it except we bring stakeholders and policy makers together to ensure we partner as a formidable force to for full implementation,” she said.
Labaika assert that on a daily basis, children are exposed to sexual abuse, domestic servitude and trafficking, adding that no law is protecting them.
Also speaking, Mrs Jumoke Olaoye, the Kwara State Coordinator of National Human Rights Commission said that the commission is ready to partners on the implementation of the law, while lamenting that a lot of children in the country are vulnerable to exploitation.
Olaoye pointed out that there is generally lack of knowledge on the rights of people as well as that of the children.
She advised people to speak up against any infringement of their rights or the fundamental rights of the children, by seeking help from the commission, adding that the era of keeping silence is gone.
Alhaji Usman Salaudeen, the Alangua of Tanke emphasised the need to implement the law, adding that traditional and community leaders are closer to the community and are ready to partner with the government.
He observed that lack of sensitization and awareness by the masses is a major constrain hindering effective implementation of the law.
Salaudeen who was represented by Alhaji Bello Oladimeji, the Magaji of Jalala community explained that the law will help the children become upright and future learders.
He added that some children face neglect by their parents and can be influenced by peer group and end up becoming delinquent in the society.
The community leader appealed to the government to also implement policies that will reduce poverty and ensure gainful employment, adding that some parents exploit children for labour due to poverty.
Also Mr Abdullahi Abdulrasheed, the Principal State Councellor, of the Kwara State Ministry of Justice said the ministry is ever ready to partner with various stakeholders to ensure the law is implemented.
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