Kennedy-Ohanenye Harps on Swift Justice to Curb Child Abuse in Nigeria
The Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has called for swift legal actions and harsher penalties for child abusers as a crucial step to combat the growing trend of child maltreatment in Nigeria.
She made the remarks during Nigeria’s National Preparatory Meeting for the upcoming 1st Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, scheduled for November 7-8, 2024, in Bogota, Colombia.
Kennedy-Ohanenye emphasized that ensuring justice for child abuse cases will serve as a strong deterrent for potential offenders. “Justice is the major thing you can use to curb this violence against children. When we have justice, that means we have consequences,” she said, adding that legal action would mirror systems in the western world where child abusers face swift repercussions.
Read Also:
The Minister also announced the introduction of a mobile court system, approved by the Nigerian Governors Forum, which aims to deliver faster justice in cases involving women and children. “Part of the funds raised from the Nigeria For Women Empowerment Programme will be used to buy a bus that will be converted to a mobile court. This time around, the court will come to you, you won’t need to go to the court,” she explained.
Kennedy-Ohanenye noted that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to creating a safe and enabling environment for children to realize their potential, stressing that children are the future of Nigeria.
In his remarks, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, echoed the call for stronger child protection measures, urging both public and private sectors to work together to safeguard children’s rights. He acknowledged the need for sacrifices today to ensure a better future for the younger generation.
Also speaking at the event, Rahama Waziri, Speaker of the FCT Children’s Parliament, called on the government to provide avenues for children to voice their concerns without fear of punishment, stressing the need for child-friendly policies and an environment conducive to their physical and psychological development.
The meeting featured panel discussions from key ministries and goodwill messages from NGOs and development partners, all focused on achieving Sustainable Development Goal 16.2, which seeks to end violence against children.
