The Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, according to a statement on Monday, stated this during a meeting held with state directors of child development in Lagos to finalise the report drafted by Geo-Kody Environmental Services for six South-West states.

Tallen, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Girl Child Development, Mr Musa Musa, noted that the meeting was organised to document intervention activities carried out to promote the protection and participation rights of children in Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun and Oyo State who have passed the Child Rights Law.

She said, “I want to use this platform to sincerely appreciate the six states in the South-West geopolitical region for not only passing the CRL but also establishing family courts and other structures for effective implementation of the law in the best interest of the child.

“I urge participants to critique and review the draft report for the quality development of the final document which will form part of data and the national report that will be harmonised by the National Child Rights Implementation Committee.”

She added that Nigeria is obliged to take all legislative and administrative measures required for the implementation of the CRL.

“Nigeria, as a member of the United Nations Convention on the Right of the Child since March 21, 1991 also signed and ratified the African Union Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child in 2001, and as a state party to the UN, Nigeria is obliged to take all legislative and administrative measures required for its implementation. “Consequently, Nigeria is legally bound to develop periodic reports on the Implementation of the UNCRC including the AU charter and defend it before the committee of experts in Geneva and Addis Ababa,” she said.

Tallen at a press briefing on Tuesday noted that the establishment of family courts resulted from the effective advocacy and sensitisation for effective implementation of the Child Rights Law across the country.

According to her, the theme for the year is ‘Strengthening Supportive Systems for the Protection of the Nigerian Child; A Wake-Up Call.’

She noted that that despite efforts by the government and other stakeholders, children were still vulnerable and victims of abduction, ritual killings, rape, child marriage, domestic abuse, and others.

She added, “As a ministry, we are sometimes overwhelmed with these issues and it will seem as if we are not doing enough.

“More worrisome is the recent increase of violence in schools, where children are physically and sexually abused online and offline. “In the meantime, the ministry, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, has developed policies and carried out a series of programmes to ensure the safety of children.

The establishment of family courts in 16 states of the federation is a direct result of the effective and sustained advocacy.”

Tallen also noted that to ensure the safety and protection of children, she also reconstituted the technical working group on ending violence against children and the management in Nigeria.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, disclosed this at a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja.

Speaking on why family courts was established, the Minister said it was a result of the effective advocacy and sensitisation for effective implementation of the Child Rights Law across the country.

According to her, the theme for the year is ‘Strengthening Supportive Systems for the Protection of the Nigerian Child; A Wake-Up Call.’

She noted that despite efforts by the government and other stakeholders, children were still vulnerable and victims of abduction, ritual killings, rape, child marriage, domestic abuse, and others.

She added, “As a ministry, we are sometimes overwhelmed with these issues and it will seem as if we are not doing enough.

“More worrisome is the recent increase of violence in schools, where children are physically and sexually abused online and offline.

“In the meantime, the ministry, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, has developed policies and carried out a series of programmes to ensure the safety of children.

“The establishment of family courts in 16 states of the federation is a direct result of the effective and sustained advocacy.”

Tallen also noted that to ensure the safety and protection of children, she also reconstituted the technical working group on ending violence against children and the management in Nigeria.

Tallen said this to state house correspondents on Wednesday, June 10 after the Federal Executive Council meeting where she brought up the rape pandemic in the country.

She said “There has been an outcry against rape epidemic because of the lockdown. I know we have always had rape in this country but with the lockdown of people in homes because of COVID-19, women and children are locked down with their abusers. The number has escalated three times of what we had seen. There is no state with an exception. The number has reached an alarming rate.  We are calling for legal intervention. From details that we have, there are hundreds of cases that are within our courts that have not been addressed and out of each one case, be sure that there are 10 that have not been reported. Because of this, we call for a media campaign and aggressive public enlightenment. We want people to rise and speak up against the abuse of minors and rape cases. We also call for the intervention of the judiciary for prompt dispensation of justice and police to ensure that rape cases are not treated with levity or wished away when reported. These were the issues brought before the council, and I am glad to announce that we got the full support of Mr President and all members of the council that government will take decisive action at the highest level to protect women and children in this country”