A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Child Protection Network and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Tuesday called on parents to protect children from all forms of labour and abuse in order to secure their future.
The organisation made the call during its rally at Karu Market, Abuja to sensitize the public against child labour as part of activities to commemorate this year's World Day against Child Labour.
Co-ordinator of FCT Child Protection Network, Mrs Veronica K. Umar, advised parents to send their children to school instead of allowing them hawk on the streets.
He said such hawkers were exposed to all forms of exploitation.
"The girls can be raped, they can be kidnapped, introduced to drugs and other criminal acts, among others", she said.
She called on government to make education free and compulsory for more children to have access to it in order to be self reliant in the future.
Speaking earlier, Technical Adviser of the International Labour Organisation in Nigeria, Chrishna Morthy Kukkikate, said the objective of the rally was to increase awareness on child labour issues in Nigeria and also discuss on its legislations.
The adviser explained that the data of children found working would be taken for further intervention, while children found in need of urgent attention would be rescued.
Paul Stevenson of the United States Department of Labour (USDOL) said when children are not properly educated and given job training, their future and economic prospects will be jeopardised.
According to him, USDOL is working with the government of Nigeria to develop a national plan of action that will help in addressing the problem of child labour in the country with the view of ending the worst form of child labour.
It would be recalled that in 2010, the international community adopted a roadmap to eliminate the worst form of child labour by 2016.
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I’m a concerned grandmother, worried as we all are about the vulnerability of our children to predators known and unknown. I believe that children are not being consulted about how to use their own knowledge and skills to keep themselves safe, for we are usually telling them what to do. I would like to see children talk with each other directly and pass on their tips to each other, worldwide, on how to keep safe in their own, individual environments. Tayn, my granddaughter, has made a wee video and I would like to start a video/audio diary of children talking with each other. I’m just writing to see if anyone else thinks this might be a good idea, and to join hands with me to start things rolling. Would you please watch the short (4 minute) video and let me know what you think about it? http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=402134663159661 (and, perhaps, give Taryn a thumbs up while you’re there?) I might add that when I asked the head of Taryn’s school in London to show the video to the school, she refused. She said they could not agree with Taryn when she advises other children in the video that when an adult attacks you, you bite, elbow, kick and run away screaming ……. Children need to be polite, is what I heard the school say.
Oh dear! I would like to hear what other children think of that?