The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on governments at all levels to renew ongoing engagements toward the protection of children.The commission said this at the 2022 International Day of the African Child celebration with the theme, “Harmful Practices affecting Children: Progress on Policy and Practice since 2013” in Abuja on Thursday.The event is held annually in commemoration of those killed in the 1976 Soweto school children uprising in South Africa.

Speaking at the event, the commission’s Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, also called on international organisations, non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to fight against negative harmful practices affecting children in the country.

Represented by his Special Assistant, Benedict Agu, Ojukwu said children are faced with physical, psychological, sexual, and economic violence and exploitation including negative harmful practices.

He said forced marriages, female genital mutilation, and trafficking among others have devastating effects on the lives of children.

He said, “I am particularly delighted to note that this stakeholder’s forum will avail us the opportunity to lend our voices to discussions cantered on how to devise and strengthen national accountability mechanisms that will deter harmful practices against children.

“The panel session will focus on today’s theme as well as propose new strategies towards mitigating harmful practices affecting children in Nigeria.

“The NHRC’s role in advancing the campaign to end harmful practices affecting children is hinged on its mandate to promote, protect and enforce the rights of all persons in Nigerians.”

Also speaking, the Country Director of the Plan International, Mr. Usie Charles, said despite laws established to protect children’s rights, the African child faces the challenges for which the laws were set up.

“Despite the laws made at the national and international levels, cascaded to the states, the African child still faces the challenges for which these laws have been set up to fight against. Every day, the African child faces rape, starvation, and abuse.

“No matter how beautiful the laws are, if they are not implemented, they will amount to nothing.

“There should be punishment for every offense committed against a child otherwise impunity will continue to reign,” Charles, who was represented by the organisation’s Communications Advisor, Yunus Abdulhamid said.