Six out of every 10 Nigerian children suffer violence, findings from a national survey reveal.
The report noted that millions of children suffer some form of physical, emotional and sexual violence every year before they turn 18.
According to the Nigeria Violence against Children Survey, carried out by the National Population Commission, with support from United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund and the United States’ Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, violence against children has become widespread against young ones.
The survey, which was presented to the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General on Violence against Children, Marta Pais at the Lagos State launch by the Chairman of the National Population Commission Eze Duruiheoma (SAN), found that one in two children experience physical violence; one in four girls and one in ten boys experience sexual violence; and one in six girls and one in five boys experience emotional violence.
The majority of children, the report stated did not tell anyone about the violence they suffered and fewer than five per cent received the help they needed to recover.
This was stated during the launch of a campaign to end violence against children which held on Wednesday at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos organised by the Lagos State government.
By doing so, Lagos became the first state in Nigeria to respond to the call of President Muhammadu Buhari for all 36 states to initiate their own campaign during the national Year of Action to End Violence against Children, which was launched in September last year.
The launch was done in collaboration with the US Mission in Nigeria, UNICEF and other development partners.
“We have a clear moral, legal and economic imperative to end violence against children. We cannot allow the findings or the priority actions to remain on paper,” Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said at the event.
At the launch of the campaign, Lagos State announced the Priority Actions to be taken by state and non-state actors in short-term and long-term to effectively prevent and respond to violence against children.
These priority responses were developed by a multi-sectoral Technical Working Group from the state’s ministries, the National Orientation Agency, prison service, the police, civil society and other non-governmental organisations.
“While national level commitments are important, how these commitments are translated into action at state, local government area and ward level is critical. UNICEF congratulates Lagos on setting an example for the rest of Nigeria. We hope that where Lagos has led the way, other States will follow,” UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Jean Gough, said.
Pais added that the study was a remarkable example of how research can bring to light the hidden face of violence against children.
“Making the true extent of violence visible is critical to mobilise public support and generate steady action towards its elimination,” she said.
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