From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
Members of the Community Child Protection Committee (CCPC) in Uikpam, Guma Local Government Area, (LGA) of Benue State, have identified cultural barriers and lack of knowledge as major impediments against the implementation of child right laws in their areas.
This was revealed during a quarterly meeting of the Benue State Child’s Right Implementation Committee, (SCRIC), held at Uikpam, Guma LGA.
The CCPC was constituted by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Benue State, to step up awareness on child’s right and the consequences of child’s right abuses and violations.
Speaking at the meeting, the chairman of CCPC, in Uikpam, Mr John Uvia, who listed some of the challenges the committee is facing in its work said culture, lack of knowledge and stigmatization were some of the factors impeding their work.
He said both men and women are guilty of these factors as some families do not want them to “interfere in their family issues.”
Other members of the committee including the CCPC woman leader, Naomi Nyiutsa and Agatha Ikyegh, also corraborated the views of Uvia, saying some parents prevent the committee from intervening in issues of rape and child marriages for what the “I did not invite you into my family matter” posture.
A representatives of a Non Governmental Organization, NGO, Sexual Offences Awareness and Response (SOAR), Initiative, supporting the implementation of the programme, Chibuzor Njoku, said no fewer than 11 cases of rape have been recorded since the programme began in January 2023 with one case charged to court for prosecution.
Njoku said his organisation is working with relevant stakeholders in Benue State toward creating awareness on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV).
Earlier at the meeting, representatives from Ministry of Education in the state, Aniho Titus, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Fidelis Alumunku, and Child Protection Network, Peter Utenge, re-emphasiszed the application of Child Right Act, urging parents to accord their children rights are protected.
They encouraged the CCPC members to be discrete in carrying out their assignment just as they encouraged the community, particularly, those displaced by armed herdsmen attacks to resist the temptation of giving out their children to live with others as house helps to protect them from abuse.