We are ready to tackle child marriage in Borno – UNICEF
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said in order to eradicate early marriage for children under the age of 18 in Borno, it is working actively with the ministry of women affairs and critical stakeholders in the state.
UNICEF Chief of Maiduguri Field Office, Phuong Nguyen, on Friday, while commenting on the recent public hearing conducted by the state House of Assembly said the leadership of the ministries of the Borno State Women Affairs and Social Development and Justice, including all child protection partners deserve a big congratulations for their contributions to the Borno State Child Rights Act in an effort to protect the rights of children.
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Nguyen stated, “Borno has achieved a huge milestone with this public hearing. By reaching this stage, the state government and the honourable lawmakers of the Borno State House of Assembly have shown commitment and dedication to secure the rights and protection of its children.
“While the domestication of the CRA is an important milestone, much more work lies ahead to implement the Borno State Child Rights Bill.
“UNICEF and all other development partners are committed to ensuring that enablers are available for this Act to be enacted into law, thus providing the legal framework binding with all duty bearers to its article.
“UNICEF will also assist the Borno Government to develop a costed inter-ministerial CRA Plan of Action that will make the law a living and active document allowing rights holders to be aware of their rights while holding all duty bearers accountable in making Borno a better place for children.”
She went further to reveal that it is a momentous moment for UNICEF as they have been providing support to ensure that the right of every child is protected and they are going to support the government of Borno to not only make sure this bill is passed into law but that it is understood and implemented across all communities.
“We advocate against child marriage either boy or girl. We are going to work to ensure that the bill is not just passed into law but is implemented so that the right of every child is protected.
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We are working with the government to ensure that marriage for anyone under the age of 18 has no place in Borno and that, we are in agreement and we are also working with the government to make sure that it is understood at the community level,” she concluded.
