Borno: CSOs Urged to Advocate Budgetary Support for Child Rights Law
By Ahmed Ahmed
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has urged Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Borno to intensify advocacy for adequate budgetary support for the implementation of the Child Rights Protection Law in the state.
Mr Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director of CISLAC, made the call at a training for CSOs on advocacy for improved Child Rights implementation on Wednesday in Maiduguri.
Rafsanjani, represented by Mr Solomon Adoga, Senior Programme Manager of CISLAC, said the absence of a specific budget line for child rights protection remained one of the major challenges affecting effective implementation of the law.
He said although Borno had a Child Rights Protection Law, inadequate funding by government had limited the ability of relevant institutions to fully implement its provisions.
According to him, CSOs have an important role to play in engaging government, lawmakers and relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to prioritise child protection in the state budget.
“One of the ways out of this quagmire is to have a budget line so that the Child Rights Law can fully take its course in the state.
“CSOs must support the government in ensuring that child rights and child protection units are strengthened,” he said.
Rafsanjani also called for stronger public advocacy to enable citizens to understand the provisions of the Child Rights Law and support its implementation.
He identified lack of continuity of programmes as another major challenge affecting child rights protection, stressing the need for sustainable funding.
He urged CSOs to advocate a specific budgetary provision for meetings of relevant child protection committees to enable them periodically review their activities and responsibilities.
Mr Murtala Mohammed, CISLAC admin officer, said adequate funding would enable agencies saddled with enforcing the law to have the resources required to perform their duties effectively.
He noted that child rights covered access to proper education, safe and decent shelter, healthcare and protection from harm, abuse and neglect.
Mohammed CSOs to monitor budget allocations and expenditure to promote transparency, accountability and sustainability in child protection interventions.
