The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons says Child Abuse and gender based violence are among key issues of concern in IDPs camps.
The Federal Commissioner, Imaan Ibrahim-Suleiman said this during a sensitisation campaign against Child Abuse and gender based violence at the Wasa camp, Abuja.
Represented by the Project Coordinator on Child abuse, Mrs Nsikan Essien, the commissioner said the effect of Child Abuse and gender based violence does not stop at the level of the child, but extends to the larger society.
Proffer Solutions
According to her, the Pilot programme is in fulfilment of one of the obligations of the Commission to proffer solution to Persons of Concern.
” Child abuse, as the name implies, is illegal and in-humane treatment, and consists of several practices that can invariably be described as gross and gruesome. Child abuse takes different forms such as physical abuse which include beating, emotional/psychological abuse, neglect and sexual abuse. These dehumanizing practices differs from discipline, sometimes, parents, caregivers/guardian ignorantly brutalize children under the guise of discipline thereby increasing their vulnerability which can make them easily exploited,” she lamented
Imaan noted that parents and opinion leaders have pivotal roles to play in sensitising one another on the evils of child abuse while they abide by the basic moral tenets.
“Nigerians are deeply religious
people and take very seriously the teachings and admonitions of their various
religious leaders,” the Commissioner emphasised.
Safer and Better place
She said that when people were sufficiently sensitised on the dangers, forms and evils of child abuse, the society would be a safer and better place to live.
Responding, the Leader of the IDPs camp in Wasa, Mr Geoffrey Bitrus said though there have been minimal cases of Child abuse in the Camp, the sensitisation programme will still help in enlightening parents on its dangers.
Lateefah Ibrahim
