The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on Thursday challenged parents on child protection in Kwali communities of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Director-General of the agency, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, gave the charge at a one-day community dialogue and advocacy on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV).
She also urged parents not to shield perpetrators of SGBV, saying such act is a crime in the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act.
She added that ‘the Child Rights Act (CRA) is a strong law that protects children, their interest should take prominent place in the hearts of parents.
‘Grievous cases of SGBV like rape, incest should not be covered, we must always learn to do the right thing in reporting these cases to law enforcement officers, or to NAPTIP.
‘Preservation of evidence in these cases must be guided well so that NAPTIP can prosecute the matter, such offences are not allowed to be settled at the community level.
‘Everybody must ensure vi
ctims are protected, while perpetrators are brought to book, settling grievous SGBV cases at the community level is doing injustice to the victim.
‘NAPTIP has started sending strong messages to parents who try to shield perpetrators of SGBV cases, or hide evidence, it is a crime that attracts jail sentence.’
Mr Danladi Chiya, the Chairman of Kwali Area Council, pledged readiness to support NAPTIP in watching out for SGBV crimes.
Represented by Mr Mathew Yakubu, the acting Head of Social Welfare of the council, the chairman charged communities in Kwali to also support NAPTIP and report SGBV cases happening in the area.
Mr Mohammed Kwainanga, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), disclosed that a lot of SGBV cases are reported at the division, while blaming the various chiefs and parents on some of the rape cases happening in Kwali.
He said ‘we receive such complaints a lot, parents do compromised when it comes to reportage, this is not helping matters, parents in Kwali communities must wake up to their res
ponsibilities.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria