Govt to review child rights law

The Lagos State Government on Monday said processes were in place for a review of the Lagos State Child Rights Law, 2015.

The Director, Directorate for Citizens Rights, Oluwatoyin Odusanya, stated this at the essay and debate competition organised for pupils to celebrate the Human Rights Day 2020, with the theme, ‘Recover better, stand up for human rights.’

Odusanya said the review would ensure that the rights of children in the state were protected.

She said, “It is important to catch the children young and let them know what human rights is all about so as they grow up, they won’t infringe on other people’s rights and ensure that their rights are protected.

“We are sensitising children and their parents to child abuse, early marriage, and Lagos State is also in the process of reviewing the child rights law to ensure that the gaps that are within the child rights law can be filled and the rights of children can be also protected.”

The guest of honour, Chief Magistrate Kikelomo Ayeye, in her keynote address, titled, ‘The role of the judiciary in safeguarding the rights of a child,’ said the judiciary had the duty of protecting the rights of children because of their vulnerability.