Lagos: The Center for the Advancement and Protection of the Rights of Vulnerable People (CAPRIGHTS-VP) has advocated for stringent and swift punishment for individuals who maltreat domestic workers, especially children. The call was made by Mrs. Olufunmilola Coker, the Advocacy Manager of CAPRIGHTS-VP, during a school sensitisation outreach at Idimu Junior College in Egbeda, Lagos State. The event, themed 'Protecting Child Domestic Workers from Maltreatment,' aimed to raise awareness about the rights of child domestic workers.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Coker addressed the students in Yoruba, aligning with the school's Yoruba-Speaking Day observed every Wednesday in Lagos State public schools. She educated them on the five basic rights of children, which include the right to education, health, safety, family life, and recreation/play. Coker expressed concern that many children are deprived of these rights and endure difficult living and working conditions with limited access to education and healthcare. She called for collective efforts to safeguard children serving as house helps.
Coker emphasized the importance of education, stating, "Every child has the right to education, just like each of you here today. No child should be deprived of this right, as education is the foundation of a brighter future. Education helps shape children into responsible adults and plays a major role in reducing the number of dysfunctional families in society."
During the outreach, students were divided into three groups for focused, interactive conversations. These sessions were facilitated by Mrs. Mercy Joshua, Programme Coordinator, and Mrs. Agatha Chinedu, Security Protection Officer of the centre. Both students and teachers were encouraged to report any cases of child abuse or maltreatment to the relevant government agencies.
The School Principal, Mr. Olajide Idowu, praised the centre for its unwavering commitment to advocating for the rights of vulnerable children. He urged both teachers and students to utilize the toll-free lines to report any cases of abuse or rights violations. The outreach witnessed the participation of no fewer than 500 students and 20 teachers.