…ask govt to make protection of children priority
Child Protection Network (CPN) Lagos State chapter, on Thursday celebrated children to mark this year’s May 27, Children Day celebration.
At the event in Lagos and themed ‘Unite to reverse the impact of Covid-19 pandemic in children’ some of the children shared their thoughts about Covid-19.
The group’s Secretary, Mr Anifowose Abdulrasheed explained that the network prevents and responds to the events of abuse as well as serves as a voice for the voiceless.
Some of the children said they missed going to church, school, recreational centres etc, at some point they got tired of staying at home.
Sharing their experiences about the pandemic, some of the children said that they hated the fact that they had to mask up everytime, wash hands regularly. One said having to be sanitized every time was annoying.
The group also enlightened the children on child abuse and how to prevent it.
The children were meant to understand that child abuse is the ill treatment of a child by adults or older children.
Noting that a child is anyone under the age of 18, the children were meant to understand that different types of abuse include sexual, physical, emotional and neglect.
The different types of abuses were explained to the children as below:
Sexual abuse: Involvement of a child in any sexual practice with an adult or child. To take part in sexual activities whether or not involving contact.
Physical abuse: When pain is inflicted on a child intentionally such as hitting, shaking, throwing, burning or scalding etc.
Emotional abuse: Repeated rejection and humiliation of a child. It also includes constant criticism and using negative words on a child.
Neglect: The failure of parents or guardians to provide food, shelter, clothing, healthcare, education, love and nurturing to a child.
On how to prevent children from being abused, the children were told that government punishes those who do such and that they should let good people know when they suffer any of those abuse types.
During an interview with journalists, the National Coordinator for CPN, and the immediate past state coordinator Mrs Ngozi Okoro, fondly called Mama Child, applauded Lagos State for its efforts concerning the rights and welfare of children.
She said, “Apart from Lagos State other states governments are not doing well at all. They are not doing enough to protect our children most especially in the case of creating awareness.
“Thanks to Non-governmental organisations for creating awareness, talking about child abuse, children’s rights, a lot of people are not aware, and basically it is governments job to do all that.
“Most especially ministries in charge of children’s welfare are not doing well too. Lagos State has really tried we have some specialised police unit that has zero tolerance for child abuse in Lagos.”
She, therefore, called on other state governments to emulate Lagos and make the protection of children a priority.