The Ogun Child Protection Network has unveiled community-based child protection committees across all 20 local government areas effort to combat the rising cases of child abuse in the state.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the Director for the Child Protection Network,Mr Olakunle Sunny Adedamola , emphasized the critical role of community involvement in addressing child abuse.
“We’ve discovered that communities often try to silence victims and even their families, so on this we have decided to make the community members major principals to report to when any form of child abuse is done.
“This silence allows perpetrators to go unpunished and encourages further abuse.”
Sunny highlighted the importance of empowering community members to recognize and report cases of child abuse.
“These committees will serve as the first point of contact for any child protection issues within their communities,” she explained.
“They will be trained to identify signs of abuse, understand child protection laws, and know how to appropriately report cases to the relevant authorities.”
He acknowledged that the reoccurrence of child abuse cases is a multifaceted issue, citing factors such as the reluctance of victims to speak out due to fear and societal pressure, and the lack of consistent enforcement of existing laws.
“We need to break the silence surrounding child abuse,” she stressed. “Communities must actively support victims and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.”
The state coordinator,CPN, Mr Adedamola Lapte said the initiative aims to create a network of vigilant community members who can effectively identify and respond to child abuse cases, ultimately contributing to a safer and more protective environment for children in Ogun State.
Mr Fasina and Mr Folorunsho Ajala, representing Director for Child Mrs Ajala Adenike, promise the full commitment and support of commissioner for Women Affairs to Child Protection Network Ogun state in implementing Child safeguarding and inculcating discipline in school without abuse.
