LAGOS/Nigeria: In a commemoration of World Children’s Day, the Headfort Foundation embarked on an advocacy campaign focusing on the core rights of children at Ikosi Senior High School.
During a recent address to the press, Mrs. Oluyemi Orija, the Executive Director of the Foundation, emphasized the significance of celebrating children on this global occasion. “We are here to ensure they recognize the world’s celebration of their childhood and, equally important, to instill an understanding of their rights,” Orija stated.
Acknowledging the necessity for children to comprehend their rights and how to safeguard them in the face of infringement, Orija outlined the day’s initiatives. “Our objective today was to sensitize them about their rights as outlined in the Child Rights Act of 2003. We engaged them in groups, providing them with preliminary knowledge of human rights. Their expressions and understanding were observed, allowing us to correct misconceptions and reinforce critical areas,” Orija elaborated.
Highlighting the pivotal need for children to voice concerns when their rights are violated, Orija stressed the significance of reaching out to higher authorities for assistance, be it at home, school, or anywhere else. “Our primary focus is educating them about their fundamental rights as children,” she emphasized.
Identifying the lack of information on reporting rights infringements as a significant hurdle, Orija underscored instances where children suffered financial, domestic, or sexual violations without knowing where to seek help. “This is precisely why Headfort Foundation is initiating this advocacy—to dismantle the barriers hindering the reporting of children’s rights violations,” she added.
Orija also advocated for the establishment of safe spaces within schools, encouraging an environment where students feel free and confident to express themselves and report any infringements on their fundamental rights.
Expressing gratitude, the school’s management appreciated the Foundation for its efforts in celebrating the children and raising awareness about their fundamental rights.
Throughout the engagement, students posed queries, particularly focusing on the rights of the girl-child, reflecting the resonance of the theme for the 2023 World Children’s Day: “For every child, every right.”
World Children’s Day, originally established as Universal Children’s Day in 1954, is observed annually on November 20th. This significant date marks the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989 by the UN General Assembly. Since 1990, this day has commemorated the anniversary of these pivotal milestones in advocating for children’s rights globally.
