Nigeria plans to end Violence Against Children by 2030

AN ambitious campaign launched by the Nigerian government to End Violence Against Children by 2030, may end the plight of  millions of children in the country that suffer some form of physical, emotional or sexual violence every year. 

A survey carried out last year by the National Population Commission, with support from UNICEF and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, revealed that approximately 6 out of 10 Nigerian children experience violence before they reach 18.

One in two children experience physical violence, one in four girls and one in ten boys experience sexual violence, and one in six girls and one in five boys experience emotional violence.The majority of children never tell anyone about their experience and less than 5% of children who experience violence ever receive the support they need to recover.

“I say to children in Nigeria – on this historic day, we make a pledge. We commit to protecting each and every one of you from violence,” President Mohammadu Buhari said during the launch of the campaign in Abuja on Tuesday, October 25.   

 “The Year of Action has created a wonderful momentum to end violence against children. We have a clear moral, legal and economic imperative and a global obligation to take action to end the suffering of children who live under the shadow of violence,” the President who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal, added.

The 2030 End Violence Against Children Campaign, supported by UNICEF and USAID, builds and expands on the success of just-ended Year of Action to End Violence Against Children, launched by the President in September 2015. 

During the Year of Action, Lagos, Cross River, Benue and Plateau States all heeded the President’s call to launch their own State campaigns; Bayelsa became the 23^rd State in Nigeria to domesticate the Child’s Rights Act and nine States joined hands to develop a model child protection system to put the Child’s Rights Act into practice.

In a remark, UNICEF’s West and Central Africa Regional Director, Manuel Fontaine, observed: “Ending violence against children is everybody’s business,” said “With this campaign, Nigeria has shown it is determined to mobilize political will and resources to tackle all forms of violence against children wherever it happens”.

 The Sustainable Development Goals, agreed last month by all members of the United Nations, including Nigeria, include a call on every country in the world to end all forms of violence against children by 2030.

To achieve the Sustainable Development Goal to end violence against children, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development plans to convene representatives from key Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as Civil Society and Faith Based Organisations to develop a National Plan of Action.