As part of activities to mark World Children’s Day, Headfort Foundation has advocated for fundamental Children’s rights at Ikosi Senior High School.
Speaking to newsmen at a recent event, the Executive Director of the Foundation, Mrs Oluyemi Orija, said that the foundation was at the school to celebrate the children on World Children’s Day.
“We are here to let them understand that the world celebrates them as children. And, of course, they have rights that they need to be aware of.
“They know that they need to know how to protect their rights in case of infringement, they also need to know how to access help.
“So, what we have done today is just to sensitize them about their rights using the Child Rights Act of 2003.
“We have done a lot with them, you know, breaking them down into groups; they have preliminary knowledge of what human rights are, they have exhibited what they know, and we have corrected them where they need correction.
“We ourselves have also brushed out those areas that need brushing,” Orija said.
The executive director said that it was important for the children to understand why they needed to speak up if their rights were being infringed.
According to her, the children also need to know why they need to talk to higher authorities and how they need to seek help when their rights are violated at home, in school, or anywhere.
“So basically, we are here to educate them more on what their fundamental rights as children are,” Orija said.
The executive director noted that lack of information on 2here to report infringement of rights was a big issue.
She noted that children’s rights have been violated financially, domestically, and sexually, sometimes by by their guardians or parents, and they lack the information on where to report it.
” This is why Headfort Foundation is bringing the advocacy to them to help break the barriers of reporting cases of infringement of the children’s rights.
Orija called for the creation of safe spaces in schools that would allow students the freedom and confidence to express themselves and report any violations of their fundamental rights.
The management of the school expressed gratitude to the foundation for taking the time to celebrate the children and create awareness of their fundamental rights.
The students also used the opportunity to ask questions bordering on the infringement of the rights of the girl-child.
The theme for 2023 World Children’s Day is “For every child, every right.
World Children’s Day was first established in 1954 as Universal Children’s Day and is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote international togetherness awareness among children worldwide and improve children’s welfare.
November 20th is an important date as it is the date in 1959 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. It is also the date in 1989 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Since 1990, World Children’s Day also marks the anniversary of the date that the UN General Assembly adopted both the Declaration and the Convention on Children’s Rights.