FG Launches First Child Protection Research Centre In Sub – Saharan Africa
The Federal Government has launched the first Child Protection Research and Information Centre in Sub-Saharan Africa with a view to gathering timely and accurate data on cases of physical and emotional abuses against children in the country.
During the commissioning ceremony held recently at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, the Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister (Mrs) Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye stated that the Centre which was co-launched by the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), will assist the government in gathering timely and reliable evidence to prosecute cases of child abuse nationwide.
She stated that the Centre which is a fulfillment of the Child Protection Information Management System, is a web-based case management tool and database designed to capture, store, process and manage Child Protection services data.
This, the Minister said is aimed at ensuring the monitoring and evaluation of child protection interventions, as well as facilitate effective case management for individual vulnerable children.
Kennedy-Ohanenye commended UNICEF for driving this initiative which she said, will further strengthen the Ministry’s
move towards ensuring speedy trial of sexual and gender based violence cases which got a recent boost through the endorsement of Mobile Courts establishment across the country by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.
The Minister stated that with the activation of the Centre which covers the 36 States of the Federation, the Child Rights Protection Act (2003) has received a major boost.
She therefore called on whistle blowers to take advantage of the hub and notify relevant government agencies of pepertrators of child abuse with a view to putting an end to every form of molestation.
Earlier in her remarks, the UNICEF Country Representative on Child Protection, Christian Munduate stated that the data collected through the Centre will enable the government to make informed decisions that is tailored towards addressing the unique needs of each child.
Represented by the Deputy Country Representative, Rownak Khan, Munduate noted that through meticulous examination of the data analysis gotten, government will identify trends, risks, deprivation and opportunities that will enhance the effectiveness of the planning and implementation of government policies and programmes aimed to giving the Nigeria child a sense of belonging.
He informed that the Centre will also provide real time and reliable data on information bordering on all forms of gender based violence against vulnerable children from all parts of the country.
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