By Patrick Ochei
The Delta State Child Rights Implementation Committee (DSCRIC) in its meeting of 3rd September, 2024, has decided to constitute four critical committees – Advocacy, Education, Health and Support Services Committees to effectively implement the Delta State Child Rights law of 2008 and the Child Protection Policy of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.
At the meeting presided over by the Chairman and Permanent Secretary of Women Affairs Ministry, Mrs. Oghenekevwe Agas, she said the Committee had come to the threshold of driving down the essence of the Child Rights law to the grassroots having efficiently inaugurated most of the Local Government Child Rights Implementation Committees.
Agas implored all the members present, including the Heads of Personnel Management of various LGAs to brace up to the challenges of resistance and unwilling witnesses in the fight against child abuse and prosecution of offenders.
As part of the way forward, the Committee had benchmarked certain child abuse cases, orchestrated by poverty for evaluation and support. One of such cases came from the report of Barr. Awele Ideal representing FIDA and Comrade Patrick Ochei representing NUJ, to enjoy Government’s support during the celebration of the 16 days activism against gender based violence, for which the concerned woman and her seven years old niece would be reached for financial empowerment, to enable her fend for her family and support the girl’s education.
Agas equally said that other parents or guardians of vulnerable children would be supported to lift up some burdens off them in order to prevent the children in their care from sliding into conflict with the law or being abused as a result of poverty.
Meanwhile, several child abuse cases ranging from child prostitution, defilement, child labour, etc were reported by field officers, for which the Committee had decided to continue to pursue until justice is served.
However, Mrs. Agas posited that even though the Child Rights law of 2008 is being reviewed for amendment at the House of Assembly, the law still remains indifferent to those who intentionally obstruct or pervert justice in child abuse related cases.
She assured that those parents, guardians or stakeholders who usually stand in the way of justice can still be prosecuted and punished, while also maintaining that the operations and actions of the Committee must be in the best interest of the child.
