Lagos State Governor Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode Wednesday in Lagos launched a landmark campaign to end violence against children thus making Lagos the first state in Nigeria to heed the call of President Muhammadu Buhari for every State to initiate their own campaigns during the national Year of Action to End Violence against Children launched on September 15, 2015.

Nigeria has had a major share in the global index of violence against children prompting President Buhari to take the initiative last year and inviting all the state governments to take a cue. No state except Lagos has accepted this challenge to create a buzz around the crime of violence against children which has in recent years become pervasive. The Lagos State programme was done in collaboration with the US Mission in Nigeria, UNICEF and other development partners.

“We have a clear moral, legal and economic imperative to end violence against children. We cannot allow the findings or the priority actions to remain on paper,” the Governor said.

Approximately 6 out of every 10 children experience some form of physical, emotional and sexual violence before the age of 18 years in Nigeria, according to the Nigeria Violence Against Children Survey, carried out by the National Population Commission, with support from UNICEF and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The survey was presented to the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General on Violence against Children, Ms Marta Santos Pais at the Lagos State launch by the Chairman of the National Population Commission Eze Duruiheoma (SAN).

Details of the survey include: one in two children experience physical violence; one in four girls and one in ten boys experience sexual violence; and one in six girls and one in five boys experience emotional violence. The majority of children do not tell anyone what has happened to them and fewer than five per cent receive the help they need to recover.

Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General on Violence against Children, Ms Marta Santos Pais hailed the study as a remarkable example of how research can bring to light the hidden face of violence against children”.

“Making the true extent of violence visible is critical to mobilise public support and generate steady action towards its elimination,” she said.

At the launch of the campaign, Lagos State announced the Priority Actions to be taken by state and non-state actors in short-term and long-term to effectively prevent and respond to violence against children. These priority responses were developed by a multi sectorial Technical Working Group from the State Ministries for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Education, health, Social Welfare, Justice, Information and the National Orientation Agency, Prison Service, Police, Civil Society, Non-Governmental Organizations, Community Based Organizations and Faith Based Organizations.

“While national level commitments are important, how these commitments are translated into action at state, local government area and ward level is critical” says Ms. Jean Gough, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria. “UNICEF congratulates Lagos on setting an example for the rest of Nigeria. We hope that where Lagos has led the way, other States will follow.”

“We have made progress in this fight but much still remains to be done,” added U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires, ad interim, Maria E. Brewer. “All children must be protected from abuse, violence, exploitation, and neglect. Violence against children is never justified. Violence is preventable.”

Participants at the event said the campaign must go to schools, homes, worship centres, offices and marketplaces for the message to reach every stratum of society.