The Kaduna State Government said it would introduce stiffer penalties against child rights violations.
The Director of Citizen’s Right, Ministry for Justice, Mr Simeon Bitrus, said this at a three-day capacity building for Child Protection organised in Kafanchan, Kaduna, on Friday.
The training was organised by the Child Protection Network (CPN).
Bitrus said the Law Review Committee constituted in the state had been working tirelessly toward the passage of the Child Rights Act (CRA) in Kaduna State.
He expressed regrets that child’s rights had suffered neglect in the country, adding that Kaduna State was among the states yet to pass the CRA.
“The lack of the passage of the CRA has remained an issue of concern,’’ he said.
He said it was the responsibility of stakeholders, including; parents, schools, communities, state and local government, to provide security and social amenities for the child.
The director urged the organisers of the training to work hard in ensuring the passage of the CRA.
He said that the CPN should write a comprehensive memo to be forwarded to the state government on that effect.
Earlier, the Coordinator of CPN, Mrs Ranti Daudu, said the essence of the training was to create awareness on the need to protect the rights of the child.
Daudu said CPN was determined to bring to the fore, issues of the child violation, including rape and child trafficking.
She said that the Nigerian child had been relegated to the background for too long, saying: “we want to give voice to the voiceless and sensitise stakeholders on children related issues.’’
On the passage of the CRA, the coordinator said CPN would be more proactive and make presentation to the state committee on law review as part of its advocacy drive.
A participant, Mr Zango Awon of Awon community in Kachia Local Government Area, commended CPN for the initiative.
Awon also urged the state law review committee to speed up the process of ensuring the passage of the CRA.
