Lagos — Lagos state government will from January 2009 commence the arrest and prosecution of parents or guardians whose wards are found hawking during the school hours.

The state government has also embarked on the construction of a shelter for trafficked women and children at Ayobo Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

Disclosing this yesterday at a press briefing to mark this year's World day for the Prevention of Child Abuse, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire noted that the execution of the recently passed Child Right law by the state House of Assembly (LAHA) would be fully applied in the case of any erring parent.

According to her, the state government through various agencies would ensure the survival, development and protection of all the children in the state, saying that, "The laws will be enforced to the letter." She said that her office had commenced sensitisation/awareness programme targeted at educating parents and guardians on the need to ensure that all children of school age are regular and punctual at schools.

She said, "no child will be allowed to hawk on the street between 8 am to 2 pm," adding that law enforcement agents would be sensitised to arrest erring parents for prosecution as deterrent to others."

The commissioner, who said that her ministry is collaborating with the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) to tackle child abuse cases in the state, said that "education and proper upbringing of our young leader is the only tool to the eradication of poverty."

She lamented that child sexual abuse has become a universal and alarming problem, while suggesting increased attention, efficient protection skills and preventive measures as necessary precautions at the family, local, national and international levels as means of checking the menace.

Mrs. Orelope-Adefulire however, stated that her ministry had simplified in printing form, the voluminous of the Child Rights law to ensure its proper understanding by all stakeholders, "So that no one tramples on these rights and to also ensure that the law offenders or perpetrators of any act against the law are duly punished," she added.