UNFPA made the call, yesterday, in Calabar during the 2022 International Day of the Girl Child, which is celebrated across the world on October 11. The theme this year is: “Our time is now, our rights, our future.”
The celebration was, however, postponed in Calabar due to some exigencies. While condemning corporal punishment as a means of correcting a child, the Special Adviser to Cross River State Governor on Women Affairs, Dr. Gertrude Njar, who was represented by Director, Women Department, Mrs. Nancy Nsor, said spanking, and slapping a child are against the Child Rights Law.
Njar said girls and women empowerment and integration into the society are key to Nigeria’s long-term economic development. She said the aim was to address challenges faced by the girl child, promote empowerment and encourage respect of their human rights around the world. One of the facilitators from Child Protection Network, Mr. Kebe Ikpi, while delivering a lecture, drew the attention of girls to their rights and admonished them to work hard to succeed.
Açcording to him, children trained with alternative disciplinary measures turn out to be best adults. He urged teachers and parents to abolish corporal punishment.