Child Rights Act: UNICEF Takes Campaign To The Academia,Push For More Humane Approach.

Every day several children suffer one form of violation or another from their parents, guardians, tutors and even peers. This no doubt informed renew calls on government at all levels to ensure that the Nigerian Child is protected and allowed to enjoy all amenities and rights accruable to him or her. With about 11state governments still showing lackluster attitudes toward ratifying and implementing the Child’s Right Act, UNICEF in a just concluded train the trainer exercise is taking the awareness drive in the media to another level as it hopes to build more passion for child protection. The aim therein, is to change the narrative on how the media reports child violence related stories with a view to shielding them, either as victims like in incidences of rape and battery or as perceived perpetrators like the case of a minor who accidentally razed a two storey supermart in Abuja. Some of the participants while commending the drive by UNICEF to get it right especially in ensuring the rights of the child are protected, further made case for enforcement of the child Rights act as enshrined in the 1999 constitution by government at all levels. As Nigeria just like most nations of the world observe the international Human rights day every December 10, these participants mostly from the academia are of the opinion that such international celebrations cannot be said to have achieved it’s aim in the country especially as abuse in all it’s forms are a daily reality for many Nigerian children and only a faction ever receive help. In all, the Nigerian government and relevant stakeholders in child protection services must show greater commitment towards the actualisation of the Child Rights Act.