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The CWLN booklet includes historical background to the
convention, information on the CRC and the OAU and the full text
of the convention.
IN DEFENCE OF CHILDREN - CWLN
Child Welfare League of Nigeria (CWLN) was founded on July 4,
1991 and officially inaugurated on the 18th day of January, 1992
to ensure the compliance of government and the society to the
t6tal observance, and implementation of the articles contained in
the United Nations Convention and the OAU Charter on the
Rights and Welfare of the Child.
A member of the International Society for the Prevention of'Child'
Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN), the League, is a collaborating
agency with the United Nations NGO Committee on the Rights of
the Child (UNCRC) in Geneva, the London based Child Rights
Information Network (CRIN) and the African Child Trust
International (ACTION AFRICA).
In the forefront of the Child Rights protection, promotion and
dissemination of information in respect of Nigeria's commitment to
the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the the
Child.
CWLN among others, initiated and co-ordinates the newly
established 60 member Nigerian (NGO) Network on Child
Development Organizations ENCDO) as well as the Network of
African Child Development Organizations (NACDO).
A Member of the Child's Rights Implementation Committee set up
by the Federal Government in collaboration with UNICEF in 1991,
CWLN, in February 1996 was again invited by UNICEF for the
review of the Federal Government UNICEF Urban Basic Service
(UB S) and Children in Exceptional Difficult Circumstances (CEDC)
1997 - 2001 five year Country Programme and in August 1996
through its sponsorship (UNICEF), the League represented
Nigerian NGOs at the 11th World Congress on Child Abuse and
Neglect , Ireland
The Child Welfare League of Nigeria (CWLN), is a national non-
governmental, humanitarian and not for profit organization. Its
function is the protection, defence and promotion of the UN
Convention and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of
Children in Nigeria and the rest of the world.
Running an effective Out-of-Rome Care Centre for abused,
abandoned, social environmental refugees (street children) and
sexually exploited children, 33 little children and young teenagers
have passed through the transitory home since its establishment
in 1994.
The Centre was however officially open by the Surulere Local
Government Chairman, on July 19 1996 , in commemoration of the
June 16, 1996, Day of the African Child, and has, in the last three
years, successfiilly re-united and settled about 65 neglected
street children with their parents after adequate counselling on
both sides, although about 30 percent are back on the streets,
due to continued parental neglect and abuse.
The first abandoned baby in the centre was admitted on May 6,
1996 and precisely on the 25th December, 1996 (Christmas Day)
and the 8th of January 1997, a baby girl and boy were
respectively delivered at the centre by young pregnated and
abandoned girls.
One of the major achievement of the centre was the recovery of
day old baby Moses Akinyele dumped in the gutter (with rats
having a field day), the arrest of the estranged teenage mother
and the location and acceptance of the biological father to take
full responsibility of the child.
CWLN was in late 1996, nominated by the National Association of
Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Lagos State for the organization's
prestigious Award of Excellence (LANAX). Describing CWLN as the
biggest and the most relevant local NGO In the area of Children
Rehabilitation and Care, the award was in recognition of the
League's excellent work in the area ofChild Rights Protection in
Nigeria.
In observance of the 1994 International Year of the Family (IYF),
CWLN served as a member of the National Planning Committee,
constituted by the Federal Ministry of Health and Human Services
and was.later, appointed a member of the National Task Force on
the Education of the Girl Child.
The League was a signatory to the draft position paper of the
International Conference on Population Development (ICPD Cairo
'94).
CWLN has' consistently advocated for the enactment of the Child
government after almost four years of the official presentation of
Rights Decree which is yet to get the priority attention of
the draft to the presidency.
On February 20, 1997, the Minister for Information and Culture,
Dr. Walter Ofonagoro, while launching the CWLN quarterly
newsletter "Child Rights Defender" during the organization's 5th
Anniversary Celebration and 1st Annual Dinner Lecture, told the
world and promised CWLN, that the long awaited Child Abuse
Decree would soon be promulgated by the Head of State,
General Sani Abacha.
In early 1997, CWLN was lauded and congratulated by the United
Nations through its (UN) Information Centre Director Mrs. Janet
Badjan-Young, for its (CWLN) "many important initiatives and
contributions towards the welfare ofNigerian Children during the
past five years"
UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION CHILDREN'S RIGHTS - HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND
Eglantyne Jebb, founder of Save the Children Fund (SCF) drafted
a Children's Charter following her work with refugee children in
the Balkans after the First World War. In 1923 she wrote:
"I believe we should claim certain Rights for children and labour
for their universal recognition"
In 1924, she achieved her ambition when the League of nations,
the forefunner of the United Nations, adopted the Declaration of
Child, otherwise known as the Declaration of Geneva. Ho'wever
both the Declaration and the League' of Nations were rendered
useless and powerless by the outbreak of the Second World war
in 1939.
In 1948 the UN General Assembly approved the adoption of a
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The rights of children were
implicitly included but it was thought that this was not enough
and that the special act for children justified an additional
separate document.
On the 2Oth day of November, 1959, the UN General Assembly
adopted the second Declaration of the rights of the Child:
1979 was the International Year of the Child. During this year the
10 points of the Declaration (turn over leaf), were highly
publicized. The Human Rights Commission of the UN Working
Group started work on the draft of the Convention on the Rights
of the Child which was originally submitted by the Government of
Poland.
1989 Work on the draft of the Convention on the Rights of the
Child was completed and adopted by the UN general Assembly on
the 20th day ofNovember 1989.
CHILDREN'S RIGHTS WRITTEN IN 1959
1. to equality, regardless of race, colour, sex religion, national, or
social origin.
2. to develop physically and mentally in a healthy manner.
3. to a name and. nationality.
4. to. adequate nutrition, housing and medical services.
5. to special care, if handicapped.
6. to love, understanding and protection.
7. to free education, to play and recreation.
8. to be among the first to receive relief in times of disaster.
9. to protection against all forms of neglect, cruelty and
exploitation.
10. to be brought up in a spirit of tolerance, peace and universal
brotherhood.
The new UN convention on the Rights of the Child became an
Internationnal Law in 1990
THE UNCRC AND THE OAU CWLN
With about 71 Presidents and Prime Ministers, including the then
Nigeria's Military Vice-President coming together for the first time
in large number for the World Summit for Children in New York, a
great promise of providing basic protection! for the normal
physical and mental development of all the world's children was,
on Sunday', September 30th, 1990 pronounced.
Realizing the importance of children to world peace, stability, the
enhancement of democratic governance and respect for human
dignity, the United Nations, recently stepped up its concern fdr
the protection of the rights and welfare of all children by ensuring
the compliance of State Parties to the UN Convention on the
Rights of the Child, which was signed and ratified by over three
quarters of leaders that attended the global Summit for Children.
Ratification of the 1990 UN Convention on the. Rights of the Child,
binds every States Parties (Countries) to comply witH the
PRovisions and obligations it contains. A mechanism for
monitoring their compliance is established in Articles 43,44 and 45
of the UN Convention.
Of the 193 Countries that attended the World Summit for
Children in 1990, in New York, about 187 of them, had by March
1996, signed and ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of
Children
(UNCRC).
In history, the UN Convention has become the most acceptable
treaty that ever garnered such immense global attention and
support.
Becoming one of the first nations to react positively, Nigeria
precisely in Lagos on the 21st day of March 1991, had the UN
CRC document, the text of which was adopted on the 20th day of
November, 1989, ratified by the Military Government of General
Ibrahim Babangida.
Of the 43 countries whose submission had been renewed by the
Committee on the Rights of the Child by the end of 1995, 14 have
incorporated the Convention into their Constitution while 35 of
the 43 have passed new laws and amended existing laws.
Rights and Obligation of the Child brings into focus, the two
international "Convention and Charter", the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCHRC) and the
Organization of African Unity Charter on the Right and Welfare of
Children (OAUCRWC).
In the two international treaties which have been signed and
adopted by most nations of the world, all the articles contained
therein are all similar in content and point to the full observance
of the documents and the effective protection and security of the
right and welfare of all children.
CWLN observed that Article 11 of the UNCRC is the only subjeci
that is omitted in the OAUCRWC, while Article 31, a very vita
measure for the effective control of children and the establishmen
of discipline cannot be located in the UNCRC document.
The two articles state:
UNCRC Article 11:
1. States Parties shall take measures to combat the illici transfer
and non-return of children abroad.
2. To this end, State Parties shall promote the conclusion of
bilateral or multilateral agreements or accession to existinj
agreements"
OAUCRWC Article 31:
Responsibilities of the Child - Every child shall have
responsibilities towards his family and society, the state and
legally recognize Communities and the international community.
The child subject to his age and ability and such limitations as
may be contained in the present Charter shall have the duty:
a. to work for the cohesion of the family, to respect his parents,
superiors and elders at all times and to assist them in case of
need;
b. to serve his national community by placing his physical and
intellectual abilities at its service;
C. to preserve and strengthen social and national solidarity;
d. to preserve and strengthen African cultural values in his
relations with other members of the society, in the spirit of
tolerance, dialogue and consultation and to contribute to the
moral well being of society;
.e. to preserve and strengthen the independence and the
integrity of his country;
f. to contribute to the best of his abilities, at all times and at all
levels, to the promotion and achievement of African Unity
JUNE 16, DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD
The Day of the African Child (DAC) is celebrated on June 16 in line
with a declaration by the Organization of African Unity (OAU)
which also enlisted the assistance of UNICEF in promoting the
Day world-wide.
The International observation of DAC which has an historical
background, as a result of the dreaded brutal massacre of
hundreds of innocent Black African Children in Soweto in 1976
and their positive roles, in demanding their inalienable rights, will
always serve as an inspiration to many other troubled nations.
13 year old Hector Peterson was the firstQ.hiid to be killed by the
police for expressing his opinion as students in Soweto
demonstrated against a new ruling by the Minister of Education
on June 16, 1976. Hundreds were shot, killed, tortured and
arrested.
The significance of DAC which came into effect in 1991, the same
year CWLN was founded, is to be effectively observed as a lead
to positive change for children throughout the continent and
alerting the rest of the world to the situation of children in Africa.
Evaluation of DAC indicates that it has been instrumental in
mobilizing support for the World Summit Declaration and Plan of
Action of which Nigeria is a signatory, and the resultant National
through Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island and terminated at the
NTA, where the CWLN "Outstanding Children Ambassadorial"
Award Plaque, Certificate and a Communique in aid of the
disabled, were handed over to the representatives of the NTA
Director General.
The major highlight of the 1997 Day of the African Child
Celebration, is the, public presentation of this publication titled
"Rights and Obligation of the Child" at "The Club", Sheraton Hotel
& Towers, Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday the 16th day of June, 1997.
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE CHILD
1. Right to life, survive and develop.
2. to compulsory basic education and equal opportunity for higher
education depending on his individual ability.
3. To enjoy the best attainable state of physical, mental and
spiritual healthcare
4. Right against child labour and to be protected against torture,
abuse, inhuman and degrading treatment, injury or assault.
5. Shall be entitled to the enjoyment of parental care and
protection.
6. Right to protection from drug abuse, that is, the use of drugs
like heroine, cocaine, indian hemp etc. or be used to traffic such.
7. Right to his rest, leisure and recreation.
8. Right to protection against harmful social and cultural practices,
eg. female circumcision, early marriage and discrimination on the
ground of sex.
9. Every handicapped child has a right to special protection which
ensures his dig~ity and promotes his self reliance and active
communial participation.
10. Every child must respect and assist his parents and elders,
serve his family, community and promote African and global unity.
11. Right to protection from all forms of sexual exploitation or
encouragement to engage in sexual activities or pornographic
activities.
12. To a name, family and nationality.
Promoting the education of child rights and obligation
Considering the magnitude of the problem associated with the
influx of street children, child abuse and neglect and in
consonance with the World Summit on Children, the UN
Convention Declaration and Nigerian Constitution of 1979 which
guarantees the right of the child to life, education, good health,
food, shelter and development, CWLN, after its intensive
research on the population and root causes of the increase of
neglect, abuse and abandonment, initiated the Child -to- Child
Out Reach Project (CCORP) for schools in order to educate
children not only in ensuring the protection of the'ir rights and
that of others but to also bear in mind, their "obligations to their
families, community and the society in general by making
reference to Article 31 of the OAU Charter on the Rights and
Welfare of Children: "Responsibilities of the Child".
In creating the enabling environment for the extensive promotion
of the Convention on the Rights and Welfare of Children, CWLN
on July 4, 1995 under its Child -to- Child Out Reach Project
(CCORP), had the officers to administer the Ogun State University
Chapter, inducted by the School's Vice Chancellor at an
impressive ceremony held in the school's premises.
This was followed by the establishment of the Kwara State
Polytechnic Chapter in Ilorin, Kwara, State.
To mark the May 27, 1997, National Children's Day,CWLN Student
Chapters Kings College, Vivian Fowler Memorial College, St.
Francis, St.Finbarrs, Cadoso High School, Iponri Estate High
School,Pampers Private School, Redeemers International School,
Wesley School for the Deaf and the Atanda Olu for the Physically
Handicapped, were at the Atlantic Leisure Garden of the Federal
Palace Hotel inaugurated and presented the CCORP/Chapter
Certificates.
By the last quarter of the year 2001 projection, all major
institutions across the country, would have established their
Chapters and strengthen the programmes capacity, in an effort
to promote the United Nations Convention and the African
Charter starting with the child's own experience in relation to
different rights and amongst youths, for eventual implementation
of the covenants. The aim is to promote child rights education
and partnership among children of all categories.
Students Chapters of CWLN drafted on CCORP are primarily,
through training of trainers workshops, equipped on the
knowledge of promoting, protecting, monitoring and advancing all
aspects of the rights of the child as enshrined in the World
Summit Convention.
MISSION STATEMENT:
Rights and Obligations of the Child (ROC) shall be a series
touching on all aspects of the rights and most importantly
emphasising the obligations of the child to society; considering
the salient fact that in the West, (most of the developed
countries) the issue of rights were allowed to overshadow the
sensitization of the child as to his or her obligation and civic
duties.
In promoting the rights of the child in Africa, as compared to the
advanced nations, ROC will in its subsequent editions take
indepth analysis on the socio-economic and political situation in
Nigeria and some major parts of Africa that could promote or
inhibit the full implementation of the articles contained in the
international covenants.