Emerge Women, Non-Governmental Organization on Monday called on the Nigerian government to protect children. This was made known in a statement signed by the President, Mary Ikoku on the occasion of the International Women’s Day IWD21.
The organization stated their concerns on frequent incidence of abductions of school children from educational institutions in Nigeria, which ordinarily should be places of safety for all children. The organization is worried at the obvious physical, psychological, mental and emotional harm Nigerian children are being subjected to as a direct result of the inability of the Government of Nigeria to protect the most vulnerable members of our society.
The statement emphasized that ‘ The thriving business of abductions which has children as its prime target is a violation of key provisions of the constitution of Nigeria including the right to education (section 18) as well as the right to protection from violence. Indeed, under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with reference to section 17 (3) , it is specifically provided that the state must ensure that ‘children, young persons and the aged are protected against any exploitation whatsoever, and against moral and material neglect.’
The statement further demanded that the Nigerian government fulfils its obligation by applying the full weight and power of the state to put an immediate end to these barbaric abductions of children.
‘We remind the government of Nigeria of its obligations under international human rights law beginning with the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights ratified by the government of Nigeria in 1983 which expressly provides that ‘every individual shall be entitled to equal protection of the law’ and underscores further that it is the duty of the State to protect the family, it being the natural unit and basis of society.’ We reiterate that the never-ending cycle of child abductions at schools weakens the family unity and erodes citizens trust in the ability of their government to protect them. The abduction of our children have far reaching consequences in particular for the girl child in the area of their sexual health and reproductive rights and the risk of being turned into sex slaves or ‘child brides.’
‘Also, Nigeria endorsed the international Safe Schools Declaration in March 2015, as a commitment to safeguard education in armed conflict. President Muhammadu Buhari ratified the declaration in 2019, making a commitment that the government would legally implement the declaration. Under the declaration, Nigeria is obliged to ensure programs and policies to prevent and respond to attacks against schools and to fight impunity for such attacks’.
Mary Ikoku challenged the government to find a quick and permanent way to protect children and a commitment to live up to its national and international obligations.
