1st September, 2015
The UN children fund (UNICEF) has appealed to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to give adequate attention to the issue of violence against children in order to ensure proper enlightenment of the public against the phenomenon.
Mr Olalekan Ajia, Head Communication for Development, UNICEF, made the call during a courtesy call on the Managing Director NAN, Mr Ima Niboro, in Abuja on Monday.
Ajia said that in 2006, the UN Secretary General commissioned a study on violence against children, adding that at the end of the study it was discovered that violence against children was on the increase.
According to him, the study reveals that violence against children occurring in homes and communities goes on unnoticed or denied.
He said the UN scribe submitted the report to the UN General Assembly and requested nations across the globe to conduct similar study.
“In 2014, Nigeria conducted its own violence against the children study; the results as can be expected were quite depressing, there is sexual and there is emotional violence.
“Sometimes the emotional is not fully understood or acknowledged but it can even be more damaging and in many cases it can be included in the physical and sexual abuse.”
He said that government through the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and other agencies in collaboration with civil society organisations and development partners like UNICEF, had given priority to the issues.
“These technical working group had gotten the president gracious accent to launch a year of action against children, that is why we are here.
“We are very sure that if we have the support of the News Agency of Nigeria we already assured of the mass media.
“The mass media, the religious community, and legal community are very critical to ensuring that this phenomenon is combated and if possible eliminated. This is why we are here.
“We need far more sustained support in terms of consistent reporting on this and all the influence News Agency of Nigeria has to influence features, opinions and analysis in the mass media to ensure that violence against children is eliminated in Nigeria.’’
In his remarks, Niboro thanked the UNICEF team for the visit, adding that children were the future of the world and must be protected.
”If we allow them to be destroyed, as a country where are we heading for?
“It is something we are very passionate about in any way that we can support you and help to give voice to what you are doing; I think we will do it.’’