The National Human Rights Commission has picked holes in the alleged indiscriminate exposure and distribution of the sex video of a child under 18 years of age as this is not allowed under the child rights Act 2003 or relevant laws of lagos state.
It said the closure of the school pending investigations and when safety measures for children to return to school are restored and guaranteed in the school is commendable.
Similarly, it stated that the decision of the Lagos state goverment to closedown the school pending investigation of the controversial ‘rape’ of a 10-year-old girl by some of her fellow students in Dubai, during the World School Games in March is therefore desirable.
The Commission has also cautioned those responsible for circulating and sharing the obscene video of the alleged rape to desist from such vicious and malicious act saying that it is incontestably criminal and a gross violation of the child’s right to privacy, pointing out that spreading and circulating the sex video could result in stigmatization and discrimination of the affected children.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu (SAN) who stated this in Abuja while reacting to the allegation of the rape of the minor in a Dubai hotel stressed that while detailed investigation is necessary to bring all perpetrators to justice, “however school proprietors must put measures in place to protect children especially where a combined sex ( boys and girls) school is being run and such excursions are being organized for the students.
Ojukwu opined that the various agencies of the government involved in the said investigation including the Police, should expedite action on the investigations and ensure early conclusion thereof.
“As a Commission, we are monitoring the investigation with a view to ensuring that the procedures are in compliance with human rights principles and that its outcome is made known to the NHRC for other necessary intervention as the case may be for the protection of school children”, Ojukwu stated.
The NHRC Boss also called on the Nigerian public including the social media users to refrain from pointing accusing fingers on any of the parties, including the victims stared that it was unacceptable to quickly make reckless comments on an issue that is still under investigation.
The learned Silk used the opportunity to remind parents, guardians and educational authorities and other caregivers of their responsibilities to ensure the protection of the rights and interest of our children whom he said are obviously vulnerable.
He observed that the internet and social media platforms, like the facebook, twitter, instagram and you-tube etc have come with advantages and disadvantages, and that the parents, guardians and school authorities should control the various activities and engagements of their children and wards whether on or offline, to avoid the possibility of abuse and other negative predispositions.
The Executive Secretary also decried the spate of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), especially in recent times when women and children face various forms of human rights violations which have unfortunately been exacerbated with the current insecurity in different parts of the country.
