WOMEN AFFAIRS UNVEILS FIRST CHILD PROTECTION RESEARCH CENTRE IN SUB-SAHARA AFRICA

In a bid to boost the Child Protection Rights Act (2003), the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs has unveiled the first child protection research and protection centre in collaboration with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja.

Speaking during the unveiling, the Honorable Minister of Women Affairs, Barr Uju Kennedy Ohanenye said that the centre is a fulfillment of the Child Protection Information Management System which is a web-based case management tool and database designed to capture, store, process and manage child protection services data in order to facilitate monitoring and evaluation of child protection interventions, and to facilitate effective case management for individual vulnerable children.

She also commended for driving this initiative which according to her will further strengthen the Ministry’s renewed drive towards ensuring speedy trial of sexual and gender based violence cases which got a recent boost through the endorsement of Mobile Courts establishment across the country by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.

Earlier in her remarks, the Country Representative of the UNICEF on Child Protection, Christian Munduate represented by Deputy Country Representative Rownak Khan identified research as a major component for data collection and analysis as it reserves as the bedrock upon which informed decisions are made, policies are shaped and interventions are tailored to address the unique needs of each child.

On the Centre commissioning, she added that it signifies the commitment of the Federal Government in partnership with the UNICEF to harness the power of research, data and information to benefit informed actions as well as safeguard the well-being of Nigerian children “it is through meticulous examination and analysis that we can identify trends, risks, deprivation and opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of the planning and implementation of policies and programs”
The Centre will serve as information hub on all child protection data and information matters across the country which was initiated in October this year by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Women Affairs Commissioners drawn from across the States a through technical validation and endorsement of the case management tools to be used for data collection and analysis meeting in Abuja.

It will also provide real time and reliable data on information bordering on all forms of gender based violence against vulnerable children from all parts of the country.
 
Ohaeri Osondu Joseph, Fnipr, Fcai
Special Assistant, Media