The Girl up Africa, Coordinating UNESCO O3 project and Better Health For Rural Women, Children and Internally Displaced Persons foundation (BERWO) have called on the State Legislators to make Child Friendly Version of Child Rights Laws available to schools in the state.
Mrs Chikaodi Omokide, Executive Director, GirlUp Africa, coordinating UNESCO project and other organisations made the advocacy on Tuesday, during their visit to Ebonyi State House of Assembly ( EBSHA) in Abakaliki. Omokide said the essence of the visit to EBSHA was to commemorate the week-long 2024 edition of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence and ensure it appropriately implemented.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 16 Days campaign is an international campaign to challenge violence against women and girls which commence from Nov 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to December 10, Human Rights Day.
She said that students, schools and other individuals were yet to have access to the child rights law.According to her, the demand would enhance students knowledge on the laws, especially the girl child to eliminate violence against them.
“By 2025, we expect increased budgetary allocation for training of teachers on family life and HIV education.
“Also increased budgetary allocation for adolescents health issues, training health care workers on youth friendly service as well as officers in charge of health facilities, linkage between schools and health facilities so they can assess accurate information of reproductive health,” Omokide said.
In his remarks, the Speaker of EBSHA, Mr Moses Odunwa, pledged commitment and partnership with UNESCO among other organisations to promote the laws. Odunwa encouraged the girl child to live better life, speak up to obtain justice as the present administration led by Gov Francis Nwifuru is poised to protect children and improve their well being.
“We are committed and ready to pass more laws or do more to protect rights of children or the girl child in the state,” Odunwa said.
He further commended governor and Wife, Mrs Mary-Maudline Nwifuru for being gender friendly.
Mrs Nkechi Echiegu, Team Leader of BERWO, while appreciating the Speaker towards attention given to the process, urged legislators to do more on already existing structures in place and implement them to curb excesses.
Echiegu thanked UNESCO for funding the noble project and commended the girlup Africa for implementing the programme in the state.
The Coordinator Child Protection Network, Mr Gabriel Odom, urged the legislators to set up committee to monitor compliance of the laws and to make progress by protecting rights of children in the state.
Gloria Igwe, a Student of State Special Secondary School Opefia in Izzi Local Government area of the state, thanked UNESCO for helping to establish a reporting protocol centre.
“Now, we are free to report cases of abuse without fear,” Igwe said. Another student, Victoria Agboti of Holy Child Secondary School Afikpo while interacting with newsmen, also called to make the laws available to schools to drive it purpose.
Our Correspondent reports that the event featured declaration for safe space environment for children and train school councilors to handle GBV cases.Also to train teachers to recognise, manage violence situation and communicate effectively among other demands.