Child Abuse: Imo Women Affairs Commissioner, Lady Ugwu Advocates For VAPP Law …Urges Public to Report Cases For Prosecution

ThankGod EMEH…

The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare Imo State, Lady Nkechinyere Ugwu, has condemned in totality the rampant issue of child labour, house-help and step children victimization and abuses in society.

Hon. Ugwu made the condemnation in a press conference at her office on Thursday, November 14, 2024, where she disclosed that her ministry has been inundated with serial reports of the menace and how prosecutions allegedly stopped halfways, hence calling for higher intervention and enlightenment of the people on the provisions of the Violent Against Persons Prohibition, Imo VAPP Law.

Hon. Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Lady Nkechinyere Ugwu

“The essence of inviting you today is to add our strong voice to the condemnation of the issue of child labour, victimization of house helps, and abuse of children by stepparents. This press conference is necessitated because of countless such issues being handled by this ministry”

The Commissioner called on Imolites and the general public to directly report abusive cases to the Ministry for first-hand charges, follow-up, and thorough prosecution of offenders, leaving no stone unturned.

“Thank you to concerned citizens, especially civil society organizations, that have helped fight this cause. We call on the general public to report any incident of child labour, abuse, and victimization of a child and escalate it. If we keep quiet in the face of the brutalization, we become an accessory to the crime, and we are culpable. If you notice any sign of such, please immediately report to the police or to the ministry for necessary action.

“We also caution in strong terms actions of step-parents who maltreat, brutalize, and victimize the children left in their care. The ministry will ensure that anyone caught will be made to face the full wrath of the law to serve as a deterrent to other step parents/guardians who have made it a normal tradition. You don’t normalize evil and expect it to stand”

Hon Nkechinyere Ugwu used the medium to “urge parents and guardians to desist from giving out their children and wards as house-help”, noting that “Once the little girl or boy go in as house-help, they oftentimes lose their rights to attending school or enjoying some benefits that come if the child were to be with their parents”, adding that “No matter how hard it is for your family, we have found out that it is better that you keep your child at home and manage the best you can”

The dogged Women Affairs and Social Welfare Commissioner, however, stressed the need for the establishment of special courts to try the abuse cases, accelerate trials, and lessen the burden of the courts, among other disturbing issues, which most times pose as bottlenecks to seeking justice for abused victims.

“We have also observed with dismay the rate of hawking by underage children during school hours. This is child labour, and it is a crime against humanity. Despite countless interventions by the ministry, this problem persists. To end the unwholesome treatment of children/wards in the state, the ministry is in the process of requesting a special court that will immediately deal with parents or guardians who engage in such”

Hon. Lady Nkechinyere Ugwu seized the opportunity to extoll the state Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma and wife for their leadership strides, which according to her have always added weight to the Prosecution of the offenders.

“We cannot thank enough, our people’s Governor, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma, for his continuous support and funding of activities of this ministry, which helped us reach out to our vulnerable sisters and brothers. We also appreciate the very many infrastructural developments, especially the road network that is being witnessed in the state.

“We must appreciate the Imo First Lady Barrister Mrs Chioma Uzodimma for her tremendous encouragement and support to the ministry. We will continue to represent her and make sure the programs, projects, and policies of the state government are driven down to the communities”