By Praise Chinecherem
The Rule of Law and Anti Corruption (ROLAC) in partnership with International Idea, is to support the Anambra State Child’s Right Implementation Committee (ASCRIC) in the fight against all forms of child abuse as well as intervention measures aimed at protecting their rights.
Rising from a two day coordination meeting with members of the committee drawn from government agencies, professional bodies and organisations, the international body affirmed its readiness to offer support services aimed at ensuring effective implementation of child’s right law in the state.
ROLAC State Programme Coordinator, Josephine Onah, stated that the meeting was convened to seek ways of consolidating success stories recorded under ROLAC one, using established structure to drive development of a work plan for Rolac two program.
“In ROLAC two, we still want to support the State Child’s Right Implementation Committee, get update from them and fashion a way forward.
“This maiden meeting is meant to develop their terms of reference, which will define their mandate, outline the structure and articulate a work plan that will guide their operations.
“My expectation is that they will be able to develop a work plan that is specific and tailored to their need.”
ASCRIC Chairman and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Dan Ezeanwu, pledged members’ commitment to initiate actions that would ensure observance of the rights and welfare of the child as enshrined in the state’s child right law 2004.
Acknowledging the enormity of the task, Ezeanwu noted that there was need to evolve efficient case management system for prosecution of offenders, data collection, safe custody of victims and related issues.
State Chairman, Disability Rights Commission, Bar Chuks Ezewuzie urged the committee to tackle issues related to children living with disability, adoption process as well as protection of children.
The Co- Chairman of the Committee representing Civil Society Organisation, Child Protection Network, Mrs Loveth Onyedinefu, described the meeting as stepping stone to achieving the goals of the committee and called for proper coordination between the state and local government child’s right implementation committee.
One of the Stakeholders, Hope Okoye described ROLAC one intervention program as eventful especially in training of social protection officers, calling for provision of response vehicles, completion of Correctional centre to facilitate access to justice.
One of the highpoints on the occasion was recitation of the committee’s mantra, “For the sake of the future, we shall win” by members as moderated by one of the participants, Mrs Ify Unachukwu.
