Child Abuse: KWSG Vows To Enforce Child Protection Laws
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
Following the rescue of a 12-year-old girl who was maltreated by her stepmother, father and a neighbour, the Kwara State Government has warned parents and guardians to desist from child maltreatment and all forms of child abuse, vowing to enforce all child protection laws to the fullest in the State.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Chief (Mrs) Opeyemi Oluwakemi Afolashade, who gave the warning in her office, reiterated that the present administration has zero tolerance for any form of abuse, such as child exploitation, child marriage, domestic servitude, assault and abandonment.
Chief Afolashade reiterated the state government’s commitment to protecting children, saying maltreatment exposes children to a life of trauma and physiological distress, amongst others.
She stressed that the AbdulRazaq-led administration is assiduously promoting girls’ education, welfare, safety, dignity through the Child Rights Law and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, noting that these measures would ensure that children are provided with the enabling environment to achieve their full potential.
The Commissioner commended the community where the incident occurred for interfering in the case and ensuring that the perpetrators were promptly apprehended by Officers of the Nigerian Police Force.
The Director, Child Development Directorate, Hajia Idiat Alabi, urged members of the public to report cases of child abuse, child marriage and Gender-Based Violence to the Ministry, Law Enforcement Agencies and other relevant authorities, emphasising the collective responsibility of all stakeholders in protecting the girl child.
