Bauchi — United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF) has urged the media to step up advocacy efforts to ensure speedy passage of the Child Rights Acts in all the 36 states of the federation.

Child Rights Specialist, UNICEF D-Field Office, Bauchi, Maryam Enyiazu, made the call during a two-day meeting with Bauchi State Media Alliance members and expressed concern over the plight of millions of Nigerian children who are being deprived of their rights, which the Child Rights Acts, when passed into law, would protect.

Enyiazu lamented that lack of a legal instrument in the country has exposed children to various forms of violations, trafficking, child labour, exploitation, sexual abuse and maltreatment, among others, adding that over seven million children in the country are orphans, while 30 per cent of them between the ages of six and 11, are out of school.

She said at least 19 per cent of Nigerian children engage in forced labour even after school hours, while 40 per cent of them are trafficked to other countries, a situation she said, must be reversed.

She said with support and partnership from the media and other stakeholders, leaders would be encouraged to support the Child Rights Acts, because. "the media is very powerful and with its support through advocacy, this laudable goal will be achieved for our children and for the future."