UNICEF Advocates for Child Protection in Northeastern Nigeria

UNICEF held a stakeholder roundtable in Gombe on child protection and survival, focusing on the rights of children in Adamawa, Bauchi, and Gombe states. Dr. Nuzhat Rafiqu, Chief of UNICEF's Bauchi Field Office, emphasized that child rights must be protected from birth, highlighting the importance of birth registration, immunization, nutrition, and education.

She addressed the alarming rise in sexual violence against children, citing cases of infants being victims of rape and abuse. Rafiqu identified a lack of education and awareness as a major driver of child rights violations and called for a coordinated multi-sector response involving government, civil society, and media to enhance child protection.

Ladi Alabi, a UNICEF Child Protection Specialist, provided an overview of the trends in sexual assault against children in the three states, stressing the psychological and social impacts of such violations. The roundtable aimed to strengthen collaboration and promote sustained advocacy for the prevention and response to child rights violations.