By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
A Non-Governmental Organisation, Kishimi Shelter & Care Foundation, has engaged 50 community leaders to help curb the prevalent cases of child abuse in Kauru and Soba Local Government Areas of Kaduna.
The Executive Director of the Kishimi Shelter & Care Foundation, Mrs. Grace Samuel while fielding questions from newsmen on Monday at the sensitization program held in Kaduna, said safeguarding children in various communities is a collective responsibility.
Grace noted that the sensitization program was part of the PLANE initiative to curb the prevalent cases of child abuse being implemented in Kauru and Soba Local Government Areas, respectively.
” One of the key challenges we have observed was the absence of children in school during harvest season, where they go to farm just to make quick money at the expense of their education.
” You know there are different levels of child abuse. We have issues of physical abuse, which sometimes we see teachers in classrooms holding Cane, there are things we don’t allow,” Grace stated.
She further explained,” We have emotional abuse which is very common in schools and our communities, noting emotional abuse has to do with derogatory words on children.
” What we’re doing today is sensitizing the parents and stakeholders to avoid such things, and we also have the other side of neglect, which is very common here in the North, where you will see a child staying for a whole day without food.
” Also, sexual abuse of all kinds, rape which is the most prevalent. These are some of the things that we’re also sensitizing the key stakeholders so that, in turn, they’ll trickle down these messages to their various communities.
“Finally, we’ve exploitation, using children to make a profit. You will see parents; instead of working and providing for their families, they, in turn, send their children to hawk or beg to bring the proceeds home. There are many other things they do in this aspect of exploitation.
PUNCH reports that the event brought together Education Secretaries, Local Government Executives, and traditional government Agencies to reflect on their activities in child safeguarding and aim to strengthen the efforts of relevant stakeholders on preventive measures.” she said.
The Director, Social Development, Soba Local Government Area, Aisha Zarma, said most families avoid reporting cases of child abuse particularly rape cases because of stigmatization.
” But we have continued to engage and sensitize them on the need to know is their right to report such cases and get justice.
” We have a special unit in the Local Government where we handle such cases and we have been doing excellently well.” She concluded.
