…celebrates United Nations Human Rights Day
Lagos State Government has urged residents of the State to protect the rights of children while noting that these sets of rights were enacted to cater for their vulnerability and development.
This revelation was made by the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Justice, Ms. Titilayo Shita-Bey, at the annual Human Rights day celebration for Private and Public Primary and Secondary Schools across the State.
The Permanent Secretary disclosed that the State Government has various initiatives and programmes targeted at protecting the rights of children, especially the Child’s Rights Law enacted to ensure that children enjoy special care, assistance and social protection.
She opined that the Law allows children to enjoy special care and assistance, as well as social protection, which will equally foster their social-economic welfare and enhance the successful building of the nation.
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According to the Permanent Secretary, the programme is organized annually by the Directorate for Citizens’ Right on every 10th of December to celebrate the promotion of Human Rights in our society and the world at large.
This, she said, will further increase the recognition of protecting the rights of children, as well as ensuring that adults take responsibility for children’s protection and development.
Speaking on the theme of the event tagged: “The Year of Socio-Economic Renewal and Nation Building”, Shita-Bey explained that the theme was carefully selected to recognize the importance of protecting the rights of children in attaining sustainable development.
“when human rights are protected, it improves the nation’s human capital and increases national, economic and social growth”.
Similarly,the Director for Public Prosecutions ,Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi in her keynote address stressed that Lagos State has continued to protect human rights through the Directorate of Citizens rights,Office of the public defender,citizens mediation centre amongst other directorates in the State ministry of Justice established to Forster human rights observance and enforcement in the State
She further emphasized that failure to recognise human right in any nation is a design for societal destruction as seen in the History of the world and indeed at municipal level
She commended the State Government for its doggedness in ensuring that human rights of every person is
respected and protected
The Director, Citizens Rights, Oluwatoyin Odunsanya, while appreciating the students and other personalities for supporting the government on the journey to completely protect Human Rights, implored them to continue being good citizens and ambassadors of Human Rights.
She further advised them to spread the message against discrimination, child abuse and infringement of human and child’s rights.
Other highlights of the programme include a drama presentation by Reagan Memorial Baptist Private School, titled “Say No to Bullying, Speak Out”. The presentation preached against bullying and dedicated to a JSS2 Student of Dowen School, Sylvester Oromoni, who was reportedly bullied at school by Senior students and ultimately died..
More importantly, it was targeted at encouraging parents and other acquaintances of the young people to have cordial relationships with their children and wards so that they can always count on them in times of distress and need. .
In addition to this, debates were organized on topics related to Human Rights for Junior and Senior Secondary categories, with Oregun Junior High School emerging as the winner for the Junior category, while Reagan Memorial Baptist Private School got the first position for the Senior category.