FG Sets 2030 Target To End Violence Against Children

 
The Federal Government has stressed that a Year of Action is insufficient to tackle the menace of Violence against Children (VAC) in the country and to commemorate the Presidential Year of Action, President Muhammadu Buhari has launched the National Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) campaign to end VAC by 2030.

The President, who was represented by the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Babchir Lawal,  did so in Abuja, on Tuesday.
He congratulated Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of government, NGOs and development partners among others for enhanced efforts towards the protection of the Nigerian child.
The President stated, “Today, Nigeria renews its commitment to protect children from all forms of violence that limit their survival and development. A year ago, the year of action to end violence against children was launched; this initiative was taken in response to shocking findings of the Nigerian Violence against Children survey 2014, which revealed that millions of our children were suffering physical, emotional and sexual violence. This indicated that our children urgently needed protection and support. I’m calling on every Nigerian to protect our children from violence.”
It would be recalled that in September 2015 the President inaugurated the Year Of Action which is championed by the Federal Ministry of Women and Affairs and Social Development. According to the survey by the National Population Commission, NPC, with support from UNICEF and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention   9 million Nigerian children were exposed to some form of violence.  The President further urged State and none state actors to perfect the National plan towards preventing and responding to violence against children.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan reaffirmed the Ministry’s charge to leading advocacy efforts towards ending the suffering of children in the country. The Minister stated that achievements within the Presidential Year of Action had been reviewed with a view to developing long-term plans by all sectors to end violence against children.
Alhassan said, “My ministry is proud to be leading the new SDG campaign to take action to prevent and respond to issues of violence against children, which is in line with one of the key targets of the SDGs. In 8 pilot states of Gombe, Plateau, Cross Rivers, Lagos, Benue, Kano, Kaduna, and Edo, and also in the FCT the ministry coordinates the modeling of child protection systems to develop standards and guidelines for implementation of the Child Rights Act in Nigeria.”
It was noted that 23 states within the Federation had domesticated the Child Rights Act, with the Minister urging others to do the same. “We must do all we can to ensure that our society is rid of all forms of violence especially against children by 2030.” She added.
Meanwhile, Hon. Grandeur Chibuikeme Nwaka, Speaker of the Children’s Parliament, FCT Chapter urged the government to stop paying lip service while treating the threat. On behalf of the Children’s Parliament, he asked stakeholders, especially the government for a complete eradication of violence against children towards building a Nation that would support their protection and development

Source:Leadership