Edo State Government remains committed to enforcing the rights of all children, including the girl child as enshrined in the Childs Rights Law in the state

The Commissioner for Youth and Gender Issues, Hon. Andrew Adaze Emwanta Esq. JP who disclosed this during a news conference to commemorate the 2022 International Day of the Girl Child with the theme: Our time is now-Our Rights, our Future, in Benin City, said the State is committed to advancing the social inclusiveness of the girl child.

According to him, the state has the Gender Based Management Committee led by the First Lady of Edo State, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki and over the past one year the committee has been at the forefront of protecting the rights of the victims of Gender based violence, women, men and children

“To this end, the Ministry has over the past one year been at the forefront, protecting the children, especially children that have left their homes as a result of being physically assaulted, like the one we just handled this afternoon that has to do with a 16 years old girl who has been sexually molested.

“As a government, such cases will be given the attention it requires, because we would not just leave it for security agencies.  As a ministry we would be at the forefront to protecting the interest of the girl child.

“As for the issue of girl child education, the Ministry of Education in partnership with the office of the First Lady has endeavored over the years to ensure that for such persons that are within school age, their interest of getting Education is not compromised, not because they are females, but because government has a responsibility under the Childs Right Law,” he noted.

The Commissioner said  girls around the would continue to face unprecedented challenges to their  Education, their physical and mental wellness and the protections needed for a life without violence, hence the need for government officials, stakeholders and policy makers to make more targeted investments that tackle inequalities experienced by girls, engaging key female influencers across industries to be the face of change and amplifying the commitment to raise awareness about and addressing factors that hold girls back in the society.

“As part of the social responsibility of the Ministry, it is therefore pertinent that we lend our voice to the need of promoting the rights and social inclusiveness of the girl child and hence the focus of this year’s theme to call to consciousness, the need for girls to take their rightful place in every sphere of the society, be it political, social, technological and economical.

“To this end the Ministry is continually open 24/7 to accommodate issues that affect the lawful rights and privileges of the girl child in Edo state. The International day of the girl child is an annual and internationally recognized observance that acknowledges the importance, power and potential of adolescent girls by encouraging the opening up of more opportunities for them.

“At the same time, the day is designated to eliminate gender-based challenges that little girls face around the world, including child marriages, poor learning opportunities, violence and discrimination,” he added.