Has Nigeria met the rights of children vis a vis their fundamental rights listed in the Child’s Rights Act? Education? Child labour? Child marriage? Genital mutilation (right to human dignity and humane treatment) etc?
The State of Child Rights in Nigeria: Progress and Challenges
As Nigeria celebrates Children’s Day, it’s essential to assess the country’s progress in upholding the rights of children. With the United Nations Theme for Children’s Day 2025: Upholding children’s rights is the compass to a better world – today, tomorrow and into the future. This is doubtlessly the key to a secured future
The theme as stated by the
Sustainable Development Goals SDG Resource Centre Children: Our Future and Our Responsibility”. emphasizes both the potential of children as agents of change and the need to acknowledge the responsibilities adults and the Government have to protect and support them to unleash their potential.
Key principles of the theme:
Children as agents of change:
Recognizing the capacity of children and young people to drive positive transformation through their unique perspectives and innovative ideas that can help shape a better future.
Our responsibility:
Acknowledging the crucial role adults play in safeguarding children’s rights, ensuring access to essential services such as education, healthcare, and protection from harm.
Focus on the Convention on the Rights of the Child:
serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding children’s rights, which are considered human rights.
Listening to children:
Prioritizing the importance of listening to children’s views and experiences to understand their needs, aspirations, and priorities, thereby fulfilling their rights to self-expression and participation
This calls for special focus: Voices Amplified, Potentials unleashed, innovations Ignited. Time to drive change is here! Investment in children is our best and most secured investment.
The Child’s Rights Act of 2003 guarantees fundamental rights to Nigerian children, including the right to life, survival, and development; protection from discrimination, abuse, neglect, access to education. and access to justice. Children often lack access to justice and protection, with many cases of abuse going unreported or unresolved
Progress Made:
– The Act prohibits child marriage, with Section 21 stating that no person under 18 can contract a valid marriage.
– The law mandates education for children at primary and junior secondary levels (Section 15).
– Children are entitled to protection from discrimination based on origin, sex, or disability (Section 10).
– guarantees participatory rights of the child
– guarantees paramount consideration for the best interest of the child
– Specifies the duties and obligations of the parents to the child and obligations of the child to the parents and the State
Best Interest of the Child And Participatory Rights:
1. The Child’s Rights Act emphasizes the importance of considering the best interest of the child in all decisions affecting them.
2. Children have the right to participate in decisions making processes that affect their lives, including freedom of expression and association
Challenges:
1. Child Marriage: Nigeria has one of the highest rates of child marriage globally, with many girls married before age 18, affecting their education, health, and well-being.
2. Education:Approximately 20 million Nigerian children are out of school, highlighting the gap between policy and implementation.
3. Child neglect and abandonment
4. Child Labour: Many children engage in child labor, violating their rights to education and protection.
5. Child Abuse:The country struggles with physical, emotional, and mental abuse, including genital mutilation and child sexual assault which infringes on children’s right to dignity and humane treatment
Way Forward:
To ensure the well-being and development of Nigerian children, it’s crucial to:
Strengthen implementation and enforcement of the Child’s Rights Act.
Increase access to education and reduce child labor.
Address cultural practices that harm children, such as child marriage and genital mutilation.
Provide support and protection to vulnerable children. including those in conflict zones and victims of abuse.
provide a one stop victim protection centre, victim support, welfare, medicals, education, access to justice, compensation
Speedy dispensation of justice as justice delayed is victim revictimization and double jeopardy
Promote Awareness about children’s rights and the importance of considering the best interest of the child
Special Protection for Children and Their Mothers
In cases of divorce or separation, we advocate for special protection for children and their mothers. To minimize trauma and disruption to the children’s lives, mothers should be allowed to remain in the family home with the children. This approach would help reduce the number of out-of-school children and homeless children.
Maintaining the Children’s Standard of Living
The maintenance of the children should reflect their pre-separation standard of living. Fathers should contribute fairly to the children’s upkeep, taking into account the prevailing economic situation. Unfortunately, some fathers have been known to punish their children and ex-partners by understating their earnings or manipulating the court system.
Judicial Considerations
Judges should consider the children’s best interests and the economic reality when determining feeding and maintenance fees. Awarding inadequate amounts, such as N30,000 for three children when the actual cost is N180,000 or more, can be detrimental to the children’s well-being. Such decisions can have devastating consequences, effectively sentencing the children and their mother to financial hardship.
Prioritizing the Best Interests of the Child
Courts should prioritize the best interests of the child, ensuring that decisions regarding custody, maintenance, and support prioritize the child’s well-being and stability. By doing so, we can protect the rights and welfare of Nigerian children and their mothers.
AWLA’s Role
Empowering a Brighter Future for Nigerian Children
The African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) is a beacon of hope for Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations – children. With a steadfast commitment to protecting their rights, AWLA has made a lasting impact in the lives of young Nigerians.
AWLA’s Impactful Initiatives
Advocacy and Awareness: AWLA sparks meaningful conversations about children’s rights, particularly for girls, through events and lectures that promote education and protection.
Empowering Girls: AWLA’s initiatives empower girls through education, mentoring, and gift-giving, fostering confidence and potential.
Zero Tolerance for Bullying: AWLA condemns bullying in schools, prioritizing every child’s safety and well-being.
Child Protection Advocacy: AWLA advocates for child protection, working tirelessly to eliminate harmful practices that affect children.
Supporting Vulnerable Children: AWLA provides a platform for discussion and action, protecting vulnerable children from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Access to Justice for All
AWLA’s commitment to justice is unwavering. The organization provides:
Free Legal Representation: AWLA offers free legal services to those in need, ensuring equal access to justice.
Free Legal Clinic: Every Friday, AWLA’s legal clinic provides a safe space for individuals to seek legal guidance and support.
AWLA’s efforts focus on:
Protecting Children from Harmful Practices: Such as child marriage, genital mutilation, sexual assault and child labor.
Promoting Education;Ensuring access to quality education for all children.
Providing Support and ProtectionFor children who are victims of abuse or exploitation.
Building Bold, Brave, Responsive and Confident Future Leaders
Collective Action for Common Goal:
By working together with government agencies, civil society organizations, communities, industry et al, we can create a brighter future for Nigerian children. AWLA’s dedication to protecting children’s rights is a shining example of the power of collective action. Join the movement and let’s build a safer, more just society for all and particularly a more supportive environment for Nigerian children to thrive.
Visit us:
www.awlanigeria.org https://awla.international
Facebook:@Africanwomenlawyersassociation
Amanda Demechi-Asagba
World President
African Women Lawyers Association
(AWLA)
President Legal Pool For Justice and Equity Initiative ( LPJEI)
23/5/2025
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