The wife of the Enugu state governor, Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi has lamented the high rate of child trafficking in the country.
Mrs. Ugwuanyi expressed sadness that despite government efforts toforestall the ugly situation, Nigerian children are still traffickedacross its boarders to be used as domestic servants and sex slaves.
In an address on the occasion of a workshop/retreat for members of theState Committee Against Child Abduction and Trafficking, she regrettedthat the current upsurge of baby factories in Nigeria has alsointroduced a new dimension to the numerous cases of child abuse.
The governor’s wife called for a speedy passage of the child right lawin the state to enhance the fight against child abuse and other vicesagainst children.
In an address, the State Commissioner for Gender Affairs and SocialDevelopment, Princess Peace Nnaji, noted that the event was acollaborative effort among the state government, UNICEF and otherstakeholders.
She also called for a speedy passage of the child right law in thestate to ameliorate the suffering of children.
In a goodwill message, the Chief Field Officer of UNICEF in Enugu, Mr.Charles Nzuki represented by Mrs. Nkiru Maduemesi enjoined the Enugustate government to look at the child right act as passed by thefederal government in 2003 and domestic same in the state withoutfurther delay.
He added that the child right act comprehensively codifies humanright, child right and civil laws pertaining to children and modeledafter global best practices.
Also speaking, the Speaker of the State Children’s Parliament, MissWinnifred Madubuko thanked the Enugu state government for her effortsto ensure the passage of the child right act into law, regretting thatit is only the state in the South East that has not passed same intolaw.
She expressed optimism that if it is passed into law that children ofthe state would stand anywhere to protect their right.
