An international NGO, Secours Islamique France (SIF), has trained stakeholders on child safeguarding to curb the increasing rate of abuse on children in Zamfara.
Declaring open a one-day training in Gusau on Tuesday, the SIF Country Programme Manager, Amina Muhammad, described child safeguarding as a collective responsibility.
Muhammad noted that the training was part of child safeguarding activity implementation aimed at engaging communities and identifying various risks associated with children.
“This session is an annual event to reflect on our activities in child safeguarding and aim to strengthen the efforts of relevant stakeholders on preventive measures in child abuse,” she said.
According to her, child safeguarding is a responsibility of all stakeholders, including parents, government agencies, security organisations, communities, and individuals, among others.
“This training is aimed at empowering communities with knowledge to keep children safe and protected.
“Based on the reports available to us, there is a serious increase in child abuse ranging from rape to physical assaults on boys and girls, especially in Gusau, the state capital,” she confirmed.
She identified vulnerability, negligence from parents and caregivers, hawking, street begging, poverty, and the scourge of economic hardship as some of the factors responsible for child abuse.
“Most of the challenges affecting our children in society are heartbreaking issues, and most of them are not reported to appropriate authorities.
“Therefore, this training is a wake-up call to all stakeholders so that the general public can be sensitised in order to break the culture of silence in society,” she said.
The country director urged the stakeholders to use their positions at various levels in promoting child safeguarding in the state.
Also speaking, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Bashir Abubakar, described the training as apt and encouraging.
“This training is timely and a welcome development considering its impact on the protection of our children.
“On behalf of the participants of this training, I assure our commitment to implement and put to use all the knowledge acquired towards safeguarding children in our respective communities,” Abubakar noted.
He assured the determination of the state ministry for humanitarian affairs and disaster management in implementing child safeguarding laws.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training was attended by representatives from security agencies, government Organisations, the National Human Rights Commission, health personnel, media, and women associations, among others. (NAN)
