The Kaduna State House of Assembly on Wednessday passed into law the Child Protection Law aimed at protecting the welfare and safety of children in the state.
The Speaker of the house, Alhaji Aminu Shagali who presided over the sitting stated that the law cited as ‘Child Welfare and Protection Law, 2018’ seeks to protect children in the state, particularly the voiceless and vulnerable against child trafficking, abuse, child labour and other social vices in the society.
“Notwithstanding any enactment or rule of law to the contrary, reliable medical, scientific or other physical electronic evidence of rape shall be sufficient to secure a conviction, consequently the prosecution and the court may dispense with the consent to trial and oral testimony of a parent or of the child victim,” the bill reads in part.
According to the house committee chairman on women and social development, Haliru Gambo Dangana; the bill will help curb atrocities committed against children in the state including child trafficking, child molestation and child labour among others.
While he lamented that child trafficking has become a money spinning venture in the state; he stressed that the new trend of selling children in the state would be curtailed with the passage of the child protection law.
Reacting to the passage of the law, the state commissioner for women affairs and social development, Hajiya Hafsat Baba explained that the bill was changed from ‘Child Rights Act to ‘Child Protection and Welfare Law’ so as to enhance its acceptability to the generality of the people.
She stressed that the law would be adequate to hold unto to ensure that perpetrators of child trafficking, child abuse and child labour among others are prosecuted. She also stressed the need for continuous awareness creation and advocacy on the newly passed law; adding that her ministry will work hand in hand with the ministry of justice to ensure follow up on every case that has to do with the child.
“We also need to put indicators in place so as to get feedback from the people,” she said while she commended the state assembly for passing the law.
In a related development, a bill to regulate the slaughtering, consumption, trading and transportation of donkeys in Kaduna State has been passed in to law by the lawmakers.
In a related development, a bill to regulate the slaughtering, consumption, trading and transportation of donkeys in Kaduna State has been passed in to law by the lawmakers.
The law seeks to regulate and control illegal activities relating to the intent of the bill. According to the bill, whoever is found violating the law for the first time would be imprisoned for not less than six months or pay fine of not less than N100,000 or both while any subsequent offence will attract one year imprisonment and a fine of N150,000.
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