Commemoration of UN Universal Children’s Day; Calls for Adoption and Enforcement of Child Rights Act – NOIPolls
NOIPolls joins the United Nations in celebrating the Universal Children’s Day which is observed annually on 20th November. The goal of Universal Children’s day is to improve child welfare worldwide, promote and celebrate children’s rights and promote togetherness and awareness amongst all children. November 20th is an important date as it is the date in 1959 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. It is also the date in 1989 when the UN General assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The convention sets out a number of children’s rights such as the rights to be protected from violence and discrimination and the rights to life, health and education.
In commemorating the Universal Children’s Day, NOIPolls presents a throwback from previous public opinion poll conducted in 2017, in partnership with Child Protection Hub Nigeria (CPHub). The poll highlighted the perception of Nigerians on the prevalence and awareness of Nigerians to incidents of child abuse in the country. The poll revealed a high prevalence (92 percent) of child abuse in Nigeria, corroborating a report by UNICEF which also indicated a high prevalence rate of child abuse in Nigeria specifying that millions of children in Nigeria suffer some form of physical, emotional or sexual violence.
Further findings from the poll conducted by NOIPolls disclosed that half of the respondents (50 percent) interviewed reported they have personally witnessed an incidence of child abuse within their localities. This data also substantiates a 2014 Nigeria Violence Against Children (VAC) survey by the National Population Commission, with support from UNICEF and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which revealed that 6 out of 10 Nigerian children experienced at least one form of violence before they are 18. Responding to question on how to curb the incidence of child abuse in Nigeria, a larger proportion (31 percent) of Nigerians suggested a public enlightenment on the effect of child abuse, while 12 percent advocated for strict punishment for defaulters of child abuse.
The chart below clearly revealed a high rate of child abuse in the country as indicated by 92 percent of respondents surveyed and residents from the South-South had the largest proportion of Nigerians who mentioned this.
Opinions on witnessing an incidence of child abuse within respondent’s locality were evenly split as half of the respondents reported they have witnessed such incidence, while the other half claimed that they have not witnessed such incidence in their locality. Analysis by gender showed that there are more male (54 percent) than female (46 percent) respondents who acknowledged that they have witnessed the incidence of child abuse in their locality.
Public enlightment on the effects of child abuse topped the list of recommendations mentioned by respondents as a way of reducing this awful incidence. This was followed by Nigerians who advocated for strict punishment for defaulter (12 percent) and those who wants the government to enforce law on child protection.
In conclusion, the poll has clearly revealed a high occurance of child abuse in Nigeria. Given this high prevalence and the proportion of Nigerians who have witnessed an incidence of child abuse in their locality, all the stakeholders of the Federal, State and Local government and their corresponding parastatals including International and Local agencies should champion the course of violence against children and focus on an enlightenment campaign directed towards strengthening awareness and enforcement of relevant legislative and policy frameworks in the course of protecting the Rights of the Nigerian Child.
Finally, in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal to end all forms of violence against children by 2030, it is imperative for the Federal Government to persuade the remaining 11 States in Nigeria that are yet to pass the Child Right Act of 2003 to do so urgently so as to fully criminalize the dastardly act; therefore providing Nigerian children the opportunity where they are nurtured in a safe and secure environment.
Disclaimer
This press release has been produced by NOIPolls Limited to provide information on all issues which form the subject matter of the document. Kindly note that while we are willing to share results from our polls with the general public, we only request that NOIPolls be acknowledged as author whenever and wherever our poll results are used, cited or published. For more information, please visit our website www.noi-polls.com and you can also download our mobile app NOIPolls on your smart phone.
NOIPolls hereby certifies that all the views expressed in this document accurately reflect its views of respondents surveyed for the poll, and background information is based on information from various sources that it believes are reliable; however, no representation is made that it is accurate or complete. Whilst reasonable care has been taken in preparing this document, no responsibility or liability is accepted for errors or fact or for any views expressed herein by NOIPolls for actions taken as a result of information provided in this report. Any ratings, forecasts, estimates, opinions or views herein constitute a judgment as at the date of this document. If the date of this document is not current, the views and content may not reflect NOIPolls’ current findings and/or thinking.
