Don canvasses legal protection for children in internally displaced camps
TDean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Lagos ( Unilag), Prof. Adelaja Odutola Odukoya has called on the government and other stakeholders to rise and give legal protection to children and others in internally displaced persons’ ( IDP) camps in the North.
He made the call alongside the Principal Investigator of the team of researchers that conducted a study on Internal Displacement and Reproductive Health Challenges Assessment of Experiences of Men and Women in Internally Displaced Persons’ Camps in Northern Nigeria, Dr Michael Kunnuji.
Speaking after a briefing on the outcome of the research, Odukoya said that it focused on reproductive issues in IDP camps in Kaduna and Benue States.
The research was conducted by Dr Michael Kunnuji, Dr Idongesit Eshiet, Prof. Chinwe Nwanna, Mrs Oluwayomi Adeleke and Mr Richard Okocha of the Department of Sociology University of Lagos.
Odukoya noted that these people are living outside their houses, and therefore depend on others to survive.
“That is why I said all stakeholders both local, international must rise to defend them. First and foremost, we must know that these people are citizens and as Nigerians, they have rights to live and to enjoy their lives,” he pointed out.
He said that child violence, child marriage, sexual abuse are illegal and charged the government to rise up to its responsibility to ensure that they are protected.
On his part, Kunnuji explained that IDPS in Benue and Kaduna are faced with sexual and reproductive health challenges.
“For instance, the people in IDP camps are exposed to sexual exploitation, sometimes by law enforcement personnel or even by people who manage those camps. People in IDP camps are exposed to sexual exploitation also because of disruptions and loss of livelihoods.
“These people are sometimes open to transactional sex because when people can’t earn a living, sometimes they consider exchanging sex for food or for shelter or for clothing or for some other services.