NGO Commends Zamfara Assembly for Passing Child Protection Bill

By Shehu Mohammad Zaria

A Non governmental Organisation Save the Children International has commended Zamfara State House of Assembly for passing the Child Protection Bill almost 18 years after the Child Rights Act 2003 was first presented to the House to be domesticated. 

In a statement made available to journalist by the Director of Advocacy, campaign, communication and media Mr Amanuel Mamo explained that,

the child protection bill, which is the state version of the child rights act 2003, is a comprehensive legal instrument for the protection of the rights of a child. 

He said the child’s Rights Act 2003 guarantees the rights of all children in Nigeria which the law defined a child as any person under the age of 18. 

Amanuel Mamo, pointed out that, the bill has come to pass at a very critical time when sexual abuse, molestation, rape, early child and forced marriage, child labour, kidnaping and trafficking are robbing the childhood of many girls and boys. 

He noted that, the full implementation of the child protection bill will be instrumental in ending such violations and abuse of the rights of every child in Zamfara state. 

He called on the state government for an immediate rollout, implementation and ownership of the bill.

Mamo said, girl champion of SCI Madina Abdulkadir urged on states that have signed the law to speed up the full implementation throughout the federation.

According to her“I am so happy for children in Zamfara. This is a great news because the passage of the law is a realisation that all children have the right to better life and opportunities to grow up safely. I am calling on the states that have signed the law to speed up the full implementation throughout the Federation. I hope the remaining states will be inspired and take similar action to adopt the child rights act immediately.”

Also, a youth ambassador Maryam Ahmed, Youth Ambassador said, the adoption of the child protection bill in Zamfara State is a key first step to stop the war on children. 

Ahmed therefore,  commended the state house of assembly for being champions on protecting the rights and welfare of children.

She hoped that, the bill will be properly socialized, funded and implemented in the state to help in providing a favourable environment in which children can realize and release their full potentials.