Connected Development (CODE) has applauded the Kano State Government for approving the Child Rights Protection Bill which will protect children, girls especially, from early marriages and domestic violence as well as punish violators of children’s rights.
Recall CODE recently raised an alarm at the increasing rate of child marriages and gender-based violence in Kano. The non-profit organisation in collaboration with the Canadian High Commission had gone ahead to train 30 gender-rights advocates in the State on gender policy and legal framework; gender-based advocacy; community mobilization; using digital advocacy tools to amplify voices of survivors and demand the wrath of the law on predators and perpetrators.
The State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who approved the Child Rights Protection Bill displayed great commitment to child welfare especially given that he earlier assented to the Free and Compulsory Education bill, a statement by the state commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba revealed.
The commissioner, who disclosed this at the end of the council meeting held at the Africa House, Government House, said that the approved bill which seeks to protect the rights of the child will now be transmitted to the State House of Assembly for passage and subsequent assent by the Governor.
CODE’s Chief Executive, Mallam Hamzat Lawal, while commending the Governor for the approval, urged for the speedy assent of the Child Right Bill and the adoption of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP Act), adding that by doing this, Kano is helping to reduce the number of children and women whose human rights are violated.
“There must be no delay in protecting children and women from early marriages and violence. Girls and women should have a right to education, freedom from violence, reproductive rights, access to reproductive and sexual health care, employment, freedom of movement, and the right to consensual marriage. These rights must not be taken from them”, Lawal added.
CODE is partnering with the trained 30 gender advocates in Kano State like Bridge Connect Initiative, Save the Women and Children Initiative, Isa Wali Initiative, Rescue the Women Foundation, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to intensify advocacy, engage key government officials and call for the domestication of the VAPP and Child Rights Acts.
It will also be engaging the Kano state Assembly, Ministry of Women Affairs and social welfare and the Police Command in Kano to ensure enforcement once this becomes law.
