A chat with the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development

WHAT CONSTITUTES CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT?

Hawking during school hours, beating a child with objects or materials harmful to the flesh, child labour, defilement , rape, marriage before the age of 18, and child abandonment.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET CASES OF ABUSE/NEGLECT IN YOUR OFFICE?

we get cases of child abuse and neglect everyday. we deal with new cases daily, they occur in our society everyday!

HOW SHOULD ONE GO ABOUT REPORTING CASES OF CHILD ABUSE IN LAGOS STATE?

Through the Ministry of youth and social development, child protection unit, child development unit---all these are located  at block 18 Alausa, Ikeja. Agencies such as the Nigeria Police Force, Gender /Child Unit, Mirabel Centre at LASUTH, NGO's, Domestic and Sexual Violence Team, Alausa etc.

WHAT DO YOU DO TO THE OFFENDERS WHEN CAUGHT?

The punishments for different cases vary. Child marriage offenders get sentenced for up to 7 years in prison, father, mother and husband all get 7 years imprisonment. (child right Law section 20/21)

it depends on the degree of the offence.


Maureen Mennor Nwaezeigwe