The Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Program (RoLAC), in partnership with International Idea, is to support the Anambra State Child’s Right Implementation Committee (ASCRIC) in the fight against all forms of child abuse as well as intervention measures aimed at protecting their rights.
Rising from a two-day coordination meeting with members of the committee, the international body affirmed its readiness to offer support services aimed at ensuring effective implementation of child’s right law in the state.
The State Programme Coordinator of ROLAC, Josephine Onah, said the meeting was convened to seek ways of consolidating success stories recorded under ROLAC 1, using established structure to drive development of a work plan for ROLAC 2 program.
“In ROLAC 2, we still want to support the State Child’s Right Implementation Committee, get update from them and fashion a way forward. This maiden meeting is meant to develop their terms of reference, which will define their mandate, outline the structure and articulate a work plan that will guide their operations. My expectation is that they will be able to develop a work plan that is specific and tailored to their need.”
ASCRIC Chairman and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Dan Ezeanwu, pledged commitment of the members to initiate actions that would ensure observance of the rights and welfare of the child as enshrined in the state’s child right law 2004.
While acknowledging the enormity of the task, he noted that there was need to evolve efficient case management system for prosecution of offenders, data collection, safe custody of victims and related issues.
The Co- Chairman of the Committee, Mrs. Loveth Onyedinefu, described the meeting as a stepping stone to achieving the goals of the committee and called for proper coordination between the state and local government child’s right implementation committee.
One of the Stakeholders, Hope Okoye, described ROLAC 1 intervention program as eventful, especially in training of social protection officers, quick provision of response vehicles, and completion of Correctional centre to facilitate access to justice.
