Community pledges support for Child Rights Act domestication in Gombe
Stakeholders from Kwami Community in Kwami Local Government Area of Gombe state had pledged their supports for the domestication of the Child Rights Act in the state.
They made their submission in separate interviews with our correspondent on Monday in Kwami community.
Mrs Christiana Garba said the sensitisation was commendable as they had learnt a lot about the child rights bill that is before the Gombe State House of Assembly.
Garba stated that there had been misconceptions about the bill at the grassroots that it sought to bring something “alien to our cultures and religion, but with the sensitization today, we are better informed and we will support the bill.”
She stated that the issue of rape and other forms of violence against children in the state was becoming alarming and “ reporting is not being encouraged because of stigmatisation.”
Malam Muhammad Sulaiman, the Imam of Doho community said any bill that supports the compulsory education of children would get his support.
Sulaiman said the issues discussed during the sensitisation had given more understanding regarding the child rights bill to members of the community while promising to disseminate the message down to other members of the grassroots.
Sulaiman who spoke on the sideline of a sensitisation on the domestication of the Child Rights Act in Gombe organised by Save the Children International (SCI) said it was time to end all forms of violence against children by domesticating the bill to ensure protection of children in the state.
Hajia Zariyatu Abubakar, Coordinator of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Better Life for Girls for the passage of Child Rights Act (CRA) in Gombe state said the team was in the community to create more awareness while shedding more lights on misconceptions about the bill.
“ There is a need for us to sensitise the community for them to support the bill and give them the right information regarding the bill and clear the contentious issues.
Abubakar stated that the people were interested in the bill adding “that is why most of the issues raised today came from them and this shows that the bill is actually the people’s bill and not for the government or single individual.”
She called on the community and other stakeholders to come to the public hearing and support the bill being passed into law in the interest of the protection of the children of the state.
