A renew call on government at all levels to protect the girl child from issues confronting her has been made by the Save the Future of Children Initiative, SAFIN, on the 10th Anniversary of the International Day of the Girl Child with the theme: “Our Time Is Now, Our Rights, Our Future.”
The International Day of the Girl Child is marked every October 11.
While lamenting the drawbacks confronting the girl child, ranging from limited access to educational opportunities particularly STEM, FGM, child trafficking, child marriage, child prostitution, sexual violence and abuse including rape, the Chief Executive Officer, of the non-governmental organisation, Oyedeji Olufemi, urged the government to address all of the impediments placing the girl child at a disadvantage in attaining their full potentials in consonant with Sustainable Development Goal 5 for a positive outcome for themselves and the society as a whole.
He said government at all levels should prioritise the realisation of the Rights of the Nigerian Girls and their protection from harm including abuse, exploitation, neglect and violence as stated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The appeal was necessitated on the premise that 10 years down the line, the Nigerian girl child is still lagging behind due to discrimination.
Therefore, Oyedeji said government at all levels should prioritise the realisation of the Rights of the Nigerian Girls and their protection from harm including abuse, exploitation, neglect and violence as stated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Available reports on the state of the Nigerian Girl Child shows clearly an outrageous discrimination against the girl child as 60% out of school children are girls. On a yearly basis more girls are trafficked into child labour, domestic servitude and child prostitution than the boys, the SAFIN official stated.
For the realisation of the rights of the Nigerian Girls, he harped on Section 11 of the Child Rights Act, 2003 which clearly states that:
“Every child is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly, no child shall be —
(a) subjected to physical, mental or emotional injury, abuse, neglect or maltreatment, including sexual abuse; or
(b) subjected to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; or
(c) subjected to attacks upon his honor or reputation; or
(d) held in slavery or servitude, while in the care of a parent, legal guardian or school authority or any other person or authority having the care of the child.
He noted that an empowered girl child today, is an empowered woman tomorrow and in future.
