FG extols Rivers on drive to protect women, children

The Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen has commended the Rivers State government for recognizing the strategic roles and keying into the goals of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.

Tallen who spoke at the four Day Capacity Building for Judges, Magistrates, Assessors, and Registrars of family courts on Child Justice Administration in Port Harcourt, yesterday noted that women are most vulnerable because they fall more victim to rape and other attacks which she described as unacceptable.

Tallen who is a former Deputy Governor of Plateau State said the family court on Child Justice Administration is one of the things being sought by her Ministry to promote and protect the Child Rights Act.

She said that the Federal Ministry of Women’s Affairs is working in partnership with relevant authorities to tackle the concerns of women and children.

She said: “Let me begin by thanking the Rivers State Government for recognizing the strategic role of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs giving the overall recognition of services to the various vulnerable groups in Nigeria. Women and Children are vulnerable, which is why they are always victims of rape and other related crimes.

“The family court on Child Justice Administration is one of the things being sought by the Ministry to promote and protect the Child Right Act.

“Federal Ministry of Women Affairs is working in partnership with relevant authorities to tackle the concerns of women and children.”

On her part, the wife of Rivers State Governor, Justice Suzette Eberechi Nyesom-Wike said the Family Court and Child Rights Law of Rivers State stands as a major instrument in protecting children, emphasizing that failure to take care of issues of children could be dangerous to the society.

However, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Chibuzor-Amadi who was represented by Justice E Thompson had during the opening ceremony of the training said children must be handled with special care, insisting that the consequences will be high if the society fails to handle the issues of children promptly.

He maintained that the Capacity Building will help equip the judges, Magistrate, and other groups or organizations who take care of children with the right knowledge to protect and care for the children.