El-Rufai assents child protection, welfare law

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna has assented to the Child
Welfare and Protection Law that was sent to him after it was passed
into law by the State House of Assembly, the Commissioner for Women
Affairs, Hajiya Hafsat Baba has said.

She told DailyTrust in an interview that the governor has
directed the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Umma
Hikima, to gazette the signed document.

Having signed the document, she said that the governor will
launch the law soon at a creche located within the ministry of
women affairs.

Governor El-Rufai had in 2016 sent the Child Right Law (2003) to
the state assembly as one of the executive bills. After rigorous
scrutiny, criticisms, debates and submissions from civil society
organizations and other stakeholders, the bill was on February 7,
2018 passed into law by the state assembly.

In a swift reaction, the Executive Director, Aid Foundation,
Emmanuel Bonet, commended both the state assembly and the state
governor for taking a very bold step towards the welfare and
protection of children in the state.

He however assured that the foundation will organize series of
activities to sensitize the public about the law. “It is one thing
to have the law in place and another thing for people to know it
and apply it to their daily living,” he said.

Also, the programme manager of YouthHub Africa, Segun Medupin,
called on all stakeholders including the media, civil society
organizations, religious leaders, community based organizations and
traditional leaders among others to educate their people about the
law so that they can take advantage of it.

The Kaduna state chairperson of International Federation of
Women Lawyers (FIDA) Bukola Ajayi, also harped on massive
sensitization to address the issue of rape and other forms of child
molestation as embedded in the child protection and welfare
law.

“When children are sensitized, they will learn to run away from
danger and people who want to abuse them. Children who wander about
are more prone to danger,” she said.

She added that there is a sexual assault referral centre called
Salama Centre situated at Gwamna Awan hospital where abused
children are being rehabilitated.

She also stressed the need for the establishment of family court
to handle cases around the contents of the law such as rape of
minor, domestic violence against children, withdrawal from school,
child marriage and street hawking among others.

According to her, the present court processes to get justice for
a child whose welfare or right is violated is cumbersome because it
takes place in regular courts where several other cases are being
determined.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna has assented to the Child
Welfare and Protection Law that was sent to him after it was passed
into law by the State House of Assembly, the Commissioner for Women
Affairs, Hajiya Hafsat Baba has said.

She told DailyTrust in an interview that the governor has
directed the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Umma
Hikima, to gazette the signed document.

Having signed the document, she said that the governor will
launch the law soon at a creche located within the ministry of
women affairs.

Governor El-Rufai had in 2016 sent the Child Right Law (2003) to
the state assembly as one of the executive bills. After rigorous
scrutiny, criticisms, debates and submissions from civil society
organizations and other stakeholders, the bill was on February 7,
2018 passed into law by the state assembly.

In a swift reaction, the Executive Director, Aid Foundation,
Emmanuel Bonet, commended both the state assembly and the state
governor for taking a very bold step towards the welfare and
protection of children in the state.

He however assured that the foundation will organize series of
activities to sensitize the public about the law. “It is one thing
to have the law in place and another thing for people to know it
and apply it to their daily living,” he said.

Also, the programme manager of YouthHub Africa, Segun Medupin,
called on all stakeholders including the media, civil society
organizations, religious leaders, community based organizations and
traditional leaders among others to educate their people about the
law so that they can take advantage of it.

The Kaduna state chairperson of International Federation of
Women Lawyers (FIDA) Bukola Ajayi, also harped on massive
sensitization to address the issue of rape and other forms of child
molestation as embedded in the child protection and welfare
law.

“When children are sensitized, they will learn to run away from
danger and people who want to abuse them. Children who wander about
are more prone to danger,” she said.

She added that there is a sexual assault referral centre called
Salama Centre situated at Gwamna Awan hospital where abused
children are being rehabilitated.

She also stressed the need for the establishment of family court
to handle cases around the contents of the law such as rape of
minor, domestic violence against children, withdrawal from school,
child marriage and street hawking among others.

According to her, the present court processes to get justice for
a child whose welfare or right is violated is cumbersome because it
takes place in regular courts where several other cases are being
determined.