Centre raises the alarm over girl child abuse

Delta State Executive Director of Afro Centre For Development, Peace and Justice (AFRODEP), Augusta Impact Keneboh, has raised the alarm over sexual violence and other social vices against children.

Keneboh, while describing abuse, especially rape against girl child as worrisome, called on government, parents and others involved in the upbringing of children to, as a matter of urgency, tackle abuses by arresting and prosecuting offenders without delay to serve as deterrent to others contemplating such abuses.

She made the call, yesterday, during Safe School Declaration programme at Ossissa Secondary School and Owessei Primary School, both in Ndokwa East and Ndokwa councils of the state.

She described violence as an intentional use of physical force, power and threats against an individual, group of persons or community, which could result in injury or death.

Keneboh said the safe school programme is supported by the Development Research and Project Centre (DRPC) and Forɗ Foundation, and enjoined children to always report in time threats and actions that could dehumanise them

She advised parents, teachers and government at all levels to prioritise educational needs of their children, stressing that it was the right of a child to have access to conducive learning environment and be protected at all times.

She urged stakeholders to intensify efforts towards protecting school facilities from miscreants, adding that schools should be properly fenced to end insecurity in them.

Other speakers at the event advised children to be very conscious of their environment for their safety, and whenever they were in problem they should report to their parents and teachers.