Worried by high rate of child abuse and other related vices, the Akwa Ibom State Government and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have entered into collaboration to end child abuse in the state.
To this end, the Akwa Ibom State judiciary held a two-day training of judges and magistrates in Uyo on July 17 and 18 in collaboration with the UK charity organisation, Safe Child Africa, with the theme, “Enhancing Skills for Better Child Protection.”
The Nigerian Child Rights Act, 2003, was adapted in Akwa Ibom State in 2008 and it criminalises the act of branding children as witches or wizards.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Calabar, yesterday, the Chairman of Trustees of Safe Child Africa, Mr. Gary Foxcroft, said: “We are humbled and grateful to support this important initiative. I would love to commend the Chief Judge, Ekaette Obot, for enabling this groundbreaking training to take place and Justice Theresa Obot for the leadership she has shown in helping make it happen.
We hope that this event will ensure that vulnerable and stigmatised children have access to justice and protection”.
Commenting on the rate of child abuse in the state, Foxcroft said: “There are seemingly quite high rates of rape. Regarding witchcraft accusations, the situation is better than 15 years ago but the centres caring for stigmatised children are still full of kids and there are regular cases of children being accused and abandoned.”
On his part, the Principal Counsel of Basic Rights Council (BRC), Mr. James Ibor, one of the key speakers at the training workshop said: “Regular training such as this is essential if judges and magistrates are to be properly supported with developing the skills and understanding of key issues that are needed to help secure prosecutions of those who are guilty of abusing the rights of children”.
