Kaduna urged to enact child protection law

The Global Initiative For Women and Children (GIWAC), a Kaduna-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), on Wednesday, appealed to Kaduna State Government to enact an effective legal framework on safety and welfare of children.

The Coordinator of the organisation, Hajiya Hafsat Baba, made the plea on Wednesday when she visited the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Alhaji Aminu Shagali.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that GIWAC is a non-religious and non-tribal organisation with interest on issues bordering on health, environment, violence against women, children and empowerment.

Baba said that recent events in the country had shown that Nigerian children and women were vulnerable to abuse and humiliation.

The Rights activist said that the level of terror, which some parents unleashed on their wards, could not be imagined.

She, therefore, appealed to the Assembly to expedite action by enacting laws that would protect children.

“Look at the eyes of those children; they are asking for justice and we know you can give them the justice.

“We are appealing to you to ensure that those children, who do not have voice, get justice,” she said.

The coordinator said that enacting the appropriate legal framework would help to reduce the menace and give dignity to children.

“Such framework will also help to build better future for the children,” Baba said.

In his welcome address, the Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Shagali, commended the organisation for its advocacy activities.

He urged Baba to redouble her efforts toward the organisation’s noble goals and objectives.

Shagali said the House had received an executive bill for a law to set out the legal framework for safety and welfare of children in the state.

“The bill seeks a system of child justice administration and child care supervision.

“It is gratifying to say that adequate legislative consultations and other parliamentary processes on the bill are in progress.

“The bill has passed through the first reading,” he said.

Shagali said that the Assembly would conduct a public hearing and other consultation to ensure that the matter is treated on its merits.