FG inaugurates task force on child sexual abuse, violence
The federal government has set up a national joint task force for the prevention of child sexual abuse in the country.
Inaugurating the committee in Abuja, Minister of Women Affairs Hajiya Zainab Maina said it was to address the growing cases of violence against children, especially child sexual abuse, rape and abduction of innocent children.
The membership of the task force was drawn from the Nigeria Law Reform Commission, National Human Rights Commission, NAPTIP, Legal Aid Council, Public Complaint Commission, Ministries of Information, Justice, Foreign Affairs, Education and Health as well as the Nigeria Police, NOA, and the Christian and Muslim Women Associations of Nigeria.
This is coming on the heels of the recent terror attacks and abduction of about 200 girls from a school in Chibok, Borno state. “The terror attacks and abduction of children from schools in the North-East of the country is a clear demonstration of the extent of violence meted to the Nigerian child,” the minister said.
She said whenever there are insurgencies or natural disasters children become easy targets as they are killed, maimed or abducted.
Children are also made to hawk in the streets where they are exposed to all kinds of hazards including child sexual abuse during economic challenges, she said.