FG Inaugurates Taskforce On Child Violence

Zainab Maina, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, on Monday inaugurated a National Joint Task Force for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Violence against Children in Nigeria.

Speaking in Abuja during the inauguration, she explained that the move was to curb growing cases of violence against children, especially child sexual abuse, rape and abduction of innocent children.

The minister further explained that the decision was also propelled by the recent terror attacks and abduction of about two hundred girls from a Government Secondary School in Maiduguri, the North East of the country.

 

Maina lamented that children are often victimized whenever there are insurgencies or natural disasters.

 

"When there are economic problems in the family, children are made to hawk in the streets where they are exposed to all kinds of hazards including child sexual abuse" she said. "The continuous and recent terror attacks and abduction of children from schools in the North-East of the country is a clear demonstration of the extent of violence meted to the Nigerian child. This callous act highlights the need for government to employ a multi- sectoral approach to tackle the scourge that is eating deep into the fibre of the country".

 

She revealed that membership of the Taskforce were drawn from MDAS and other relevant stakeholders.

 

According to her, the taskforce comprised Nigeria Law Reform Commission, National Human Rights Commission, NAPTIP, Legal Aid Council, Public Complaint Commission, Ministries of Information, Justice, Foreign Affairs, Education and Health as well as the Nigeria Police, NOA, and the Christian and Muslim Women Associations of Nigeria, that have been identified as key actors in child survival, development and protection issues.

 

Responding, Beatrice Agba, the Executive Secretary of NAPTIP, asserted that the agency condemned the inhuman act of suicide bombers as well as the abduction of some girls. 

 

Agba assured that her agency would partner with the Ministry of Women Affairs in a bid to protect children, especially the girl-child who is very vulnerable.

 

Dr. Habiba Lawal, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Women Affairs, explained that it was imperative to set up a national joint taskforce because of the rising incidences of rape, child defilement and baby farming in the country.

 

She expressed believe that the taskforce will provide a unified platform for government agencies and the civil society to curb the menace of child sexual abuse and violence against children.