The issue of protection of the right of children in all countries took centre stage in Abuja, Nigeria as the Federal Government of Nigeria and the United Nations Childrens Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNICEF vowed to continue collaboration on the issue.
Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr.Geoffery Onyeama and the UNICEF Counrty Director Ms Cristian Munduate pledge the commitment of the Nigeria and the United Nations System at a formal agreement signing ceremony on the handover of protocols for children encountered in the course of armed conflict in Nigeria and Lake Chad basin region over the weekend in Abuja.
According to Onyeama, Nigeria is committed to the full implementation of the Child Right Act 2013 adding that the nation will continue to collaborate with UNICEF and other international organisations in ensuring the protection of such rights.
He stated that in each conflict, most children are killed and some others are maimed due to conflagration between the rebellious and protective forces fighting on the front line of such crisis.
According to Onyeama, the adoption of the Child Right Act 2013 and the formal signing of the protocol between Nigeria and the UNICEF was to ensure protection of the right of children and other vulnerable groups in Nigeria.
Also in a remark, the UNICEF Country Director Ms Cristian Munudate said that the signing of the protocol is borne out of negotiation between the Nigerian military authorities and the world body.
She stated that the negotiation had led to the release of 2677 children from states of North-East of the country out which 800 were girls adding that the UNICEF would continue to support the government of Nigeria on child rights protection.They both vowed to implement the United Nations Convention on the rights of children.
Other stakeholders including the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and the UN System also lauded the initiative assuring of their willingness to do their own part in safeguarding the right of children and vulnerable persons in the country.
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