Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, (CSOs), has called for the speedy adoption and domestication of the Safe Schools Declaration, (SSD), to protect children in armed conflict.

Founding Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center, (WARDC), Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, observed that although plans are said to be underway, the federal government is yet to implement the SSD as well as put in place structures to that effect.

She made this known at a Two-day Train the Trainers Workshop on Legislative Advocacy for Community Leaders, CSOs and School Administrators for Effective Implementation of Safe Schools Policies in Nigeria, yesterday in Abuja.

Represented by WARDC Senior Programme Officer, Grant, Emmanuellea Azu, she said “The insecurity in Nigeria made schools very unsafe due to incidences of kidnapping and others in school and the number of kidnapping in school has since increased.

“The train the trainer’s Workshop is expected create better understanding of the safe schools declaration and how to get involved in the process and support it’s implementation in our various states.

“The aim is to increase public awareness on SSD, seek the formula and adoption of a legal framework on the SSD and to establish effective working partnership.

Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi called for the full implementation of the SSD at all levels of government to ensure the protection of the education of the adoption of the SSD.

Speaking on the central pace of advocacy in the promoting implementation of the SSD, Coordinator, Gender Equality, Peace and Development, Professor Patricia Donli, from the university of Maiduguri, said the purpose of advocacy is to enhance understanding of the issue under discuss.

Dr. Akintayo Afolabi, a lecturer the university of Lagos, noted that most advocacies are tied to human rights issues such as the call for implementation of the SSD in Nigeria.

He highlighted the role of advocacy to include giving voice to issues of public concern and setting agenda as well as the promotion of human rights observance among others.

The safe schools declaration is an inter-governmental political commitment dedicated to protecting education in armed conflict.