The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday commended the Kaduna State Government for inaugurating a committee to facilitate the implementation of the state’s Child Welfare and Protection Law.
Dr Zakari Adam, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Kaduna, gave the commendation at the inauguration of the committee in Kaduna.
Adam said that inaugurating the committee marked out the state as a strong partner in the fight against all forms of child abuse and neglect.
He said that the law, aimed at tackling the root causes of violence, exploitation and abuse of children had filled a void in the legal framework of child protection in Kaduna state.
He, however, pointed out that passing the law was one thing, and its effective implementation was another.
Adam said that setting up the committee occupied a crucial place in UNICEF partnership in ending all forms of violence against children in Kaduna state.
According to him, without effective implementation, other crucial aspects of strengthening the system will be lacking and may impede result delivery for children and families.
“This is why we consider this committee as the tool of tools in our joint resolve to end all forms of violence against children.
“We may recall that in 2018, in a remarkable show of influential leadership, Kaduna state became one of the first Northern states to pass the Child Rights Law as ‘Child Welfare and Protection Law, 2018.
“This came after defusing all oppositions using the tool of effective dialogue.
“The success in Kaduna has inspired multiple Northern states to follow suit in the passage of their own Child Rights Laws.
“We wish to, therefore, use this opportunity to thank Your excellency and team for being a wonderful and reliable partner.”
He said that UNICEF had continued to experience this trajectory of strong political leadership in all our work with the Kaduna state government, not only in child protection but in education, health, nutrition, water, and sanitation.
He expressed optimism that the state would achieve another milestone by inaugurating Family Courts within the year, a key requirement for child justice administration in the state.
“It is remarkable to note that membership of this committee has been drawn from all key stakeholders: ministries, security agencies, Sexual Assault Reference Centre, family court, media, state council of Chiefs, Islamic and Christian faiths and civil society organisations.
“Hence, we have all we need to initiate actions that would ensure the observance and popularisation of the rights and welfare of children.
“We expect that with your swearing in, Kaduna state would stand tall as one with zero tolerance to all forms of child abuse and neglect,” he said.(NAN)
