Abuse: Judge Lambasts States Delaying Domestication of Child Rights Law

• Female lawyers want stiffer penalty against abusers

Olakiitan Victor in Ado Ekiti

A Judge of the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, has lambasted some states for foot-dragging with regards to the domestication and implementation of the child rights law.

He regretted that only 24 out of the 36 states of the federation had adopted the law with Lagos coming first. He lamented that some states that had domesticated it were also not thorough
in its implementation.

Delivering a lecture entitled: “Implementation of child protection Laws; the Role of Stakeholders” at a ceremony marking the 2016 edition of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) in Ekiti State, Justice Taiwo also alluded to obnoxious traditions and cultural practices as two main impediments to the rights of children in Nigeria.

He said with the condition of children in the country, concerted efforts must be made to tackle the menace of degradation, molestation and abuse of children.

The jurist said: “Developmental issues for example on children’s vulnerabilities in this online world should be the focus of all stakeholders. The impact of online usage should not be lost on us.

“Children are targets of prostitution online, pornography online, child abuse online and other negative effects of information dissemination through the internet.

“Companies and businesses can provide grants for research and sponsor programmes to educate the children and the entire public on issues concerning the child”, he pleaded.

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