The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed concern about the growing number of street children who on daily basis go through harrowing experiences as they engage in hawking, begging just to survive.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu (SAN) who raised this concern in his statement in Abuja to mark the 2022 International Day for Street Children noted that some of the street children are trafficked and sometimes experience sexual and gender based violence, child marriage and other vices which they are lured into due to their vulnerability.
This year’s celebration focused on recognizing the work and dedication of organisations working on the street with children.
According to the Chief Human Rights Officer in Nigeria, it is on this note that the Commission commends stakeholders especially the “Young Ambassadors Against Drug Initiative (YAADI) on this special day, for the commitment to bring to the limelight the plights of street children by working towards redirecting their enormous potentials for productive living.
“It is on this note that we as a Commission reiterates our commitment to serve as an extra-judicial mechanism for the enhancement of the respect for and enjoyment of human rights for all persons, while ensuring that the principle of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of ‘leaving no one behind’ is realized”, Ojukwu stated.
The NHRC Boss observed that while there is progress in the area of child protection in Nigeria since the adoption of the Child Rights Act (CRA) in 2003, there is still gap in the implementation of the Acts, pointing out that only 24 state have so far adopted the CRA as a State law.
He therefore called on the states that have not passed the CRA into law to expedite action and do so and for the government to prioritize the formulation of frameworks to supplement the inadequate legislations addressing the challenge of street children to ensure that they are not left behind.
April 12th is set aside every year to remember street children around the world who face social exclusion and are deprived of the right to education, health, shelter amongst others.
As part of the activities lined up to commemorate the International Day for Street Children, a road walk involving some staff of the NHRC and members of YAADI will commence from the Headquarters of the Commission and terminate at the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.
The road walk will feature campaign targeted at showcasing the plights of girls and boys living on the street of Nigeria and ECOWAS sub region.
