The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) yesterday said in
spite of advances made over the last years, Nigerian children still lack access
to health, nutrition, education, and other basic rights.
UNICEF’s new Country Representative in Nigeria, Peter
Hawkins, who stated this in a message to commemorate 2019 Nigerian
Children’s Day, noted that more children now live healthy lives, learn in
schools and have a voice in their communities than ever before.
“But much more needs to be done as children’s rights
continue to be unfulfilled and threatened daily around the world and in
Nigeria. There are still too many children being left behind and too many
childhoods cut short by violence, conflict, poverty, and inequality.
“At this year’s Nigerian Children’s Day, we must look ahead
to the future of childhood in this country and re-commit to urgent, specific
actions to protect the rights of every child – now and in future,” he stated.
Hawkins pointed out that the most disadvantaged children in
the country suffer the greatest challenge in fulfillment of their rights,
adding that Child rights would only be fully realised when every government and
every citizen are aware of and uphold children’s rights and every child could
claim those rights.
He added that as part of the celebrations, UNICEF has
launched Passport to Your Rights– a copy of the CRC in child-friendly languages
and in pocket format to ensure that every Nigerian child has a copy by 2030,
being the deadline for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
He noted that the CRC ‘passport’ would also be available in
Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Pidgin languages, helping to ensure access by millions
of Nigerians.
“This is why we are launching the For Every Child, Every
Right campaign and will work closely with the government to ensure that all
Nigerians are aware of children’s rights.
“This includes in particular children themselves. Nigerian
Children’s Day 2019 falls on the 30th anniversary of the United Nations (UN)
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which is being commemorated this
year around the world.
“30 years ago, world leaders came together for the world’s
children. They made a promise to every child to protect and fulfill their
rights, by adopting the UN’s Convention on the rights of the child.
The Convention established childhood as a period separate
from adulthood-a time in which children should grow, learn, play, develop and
flourish,” he said.
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