Group commends Zamfara Legislature on passage of Child Rights Act

An advocacy group, Save the Children International (SCI) Nigeria, on Friday commended the Zamfara State House of Assembly for passage of the Child Protection Bill into law.

The Director of Advocacy, Campaign, Communication and Media of the Save the Children International, Nigeria, Amanuel Mamo, in a statement in Abuja, highlighted: “We celebrate the decision by the Zamfara House of Assembly in passing the Child Protection Bill that ensures the rights of Zamfara children are protected, respected, and fulfilled.

 “The Bill has come to pass at a very critical time when sexual abuse, molestation, rape, early child and forced marriage, child labour, kidnapping, and trafficking are robbing the childhood of many girls and boys.

“However, 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.”

The group challenged the Zamfara State Government to enforce immediate rollout, implementation, and ownership of the bill.

Amanuel Mamo  stated: “SCI recognises and appreciates the contribution that partner organisations, CSOs, child champions, children parliament, community, religious and traditional leaders had made towards the adoption of the bill.”

Girl Champion, SCI Nigeria, Ms Madina Abdulkadir, expressed joy for Zamfara children. Abdulkadir celebrated: “This is great news because the passage of the law is a realisation that all children have the right to a better life and opportunities to grow up safely.”

She called on states that have signed the law to speed up its full implementation.

She also expressed hope that the remaining states would be inspired to take similar action to adopt the child rights act immediately.