Stakeholder Roundtable Addresses Child Rights Violations in Northeastern Nigeria
The UNICEF field office in Bauchi recently held a stakeholder roundtable focused on the protection of children’s rights, responding to increasing violations and low survival rates in some northeastern states. This gathering underscores the organization’s commitment to safeguarding child protection as an inalienable right at every level, from families to national frameworks.
Participants included journalists, social workers, law enforcement officials, lawyers, and traditional leaders from Adamawa, Bauchi, and Gombe states. The meeting took place in Gombe, aiming to enhance collective efforts to secure and promote the rights of all children.
Despite the establishment of laws such as the Violence Against Persons Act (VAPP) and the Child Rights Act, many children in these regions continue to face significant hurdles to their protection and survival. These legal frameworks are not enough to mitigate the challenges that threaten the welfare of vulnerable children.
At the Stakeholder Roundtable and Advocacy Assembly on Children’s Rights, Dr. Nuzat Rafike, UNICEF’s Field Director in Bauchi, emphasized that the protection of children’s rights begins at birth and must continue throughout their entire lives. She urged attendees to recognize child protection as an issue that requires immediate attention from the moment a child is born.
Dr. Rafike highlighted the critical need for birth registration, among other basic survival essentials such as immunization, nutrition, healthcare, and education, to ensure that children can realize their full potential. She also addressed the alarming issue of sexual violence against minors, revealing stark data that underscores the gravity of the situation.
“Even infants as young as six months have been victims of sexual abuse,” she noted, sharing her distressing experience at the Sexual Assault Referral Center in Gombe. Such tragedies represent gross violations of children’s rights and reveal a deeply concerning trend not only in Nigeria but across the developing world.
Dr. Rafike pointed out the long-term psychological and physical repercussions of abuse on children, calling for stronger referral systems and improved access to care for survivors. She argued that a lack of education and awareness significantly contributes to child rights abuses, asserting that educating today’s children will help cultivate responsible parents for tomorrow, thereby fostering a safer environment.
She urged stakeholders, including journalists, traditional rulers, and government officials, to take proactive roles in raising awareness about children’s rights and advocating for enforcement measures. “Protecting children is a collective responsibility that extends beyond government efforts,” she stated. “Children are our most precious gift, and it is the duty of everyone to ensure their protection.”
During the roundtable, UNICEF Child Protection Specialist Ladi Alabi provided an insightful overview of child sexual violence, including its causes, trends, and implications in Adamawa, Bauchi, and Gombe states. She highlighted how such violations can severely affect children’s physical, psychological, and social well-being. The prevalence of unreported incidents—often driven by stigma, fear, and a lack of awareness regarding available support systems—remains a major concern.
To effectively combat these challenges, a coordinated, multisectoral approach is essential, involving governments, civil society, the media, and entire community structures. The roundtable aims to strengthen collaborations, enhance understanding of referral pathways, and sustain advocacy efforts against child sexual assault and violations.
