The CWLN booklet includes historical background to the convention, information on the CRC and the OAU and the full text of the convention.

IN DEFENCE OF CHILDREN - CWLN

Child Welfare League of Nigeria (CWLN) was founded on July 4, 1991 and officially inaugurated on the 18th day of January, 1992 to ensure the compliance of government and the society to the t6tal observance, and implementation of the articles contained in the United Nations Convention and the OAU Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.

A member of the International Society for the Prevention of'Child' Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN), the League, is a collaborating agency with the United Nations NGO Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in Geneva, the London based Child Rights Information Network (CRIN) and the African Child Trust International (ACTION AFRICA).

In the forefront of the Child Rights protection, promotion and dissemination of information in respect of Nigeria's commitment to the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the the Child.

CWLN among others, initiated and co-ordinates the newly established 60 member Nigerian (NGO) Network on Child Development Organizations ENCDO) as well as the Network of African Child Development Organizations (NACDO).

A Member of the Child's Rights Implementation Committee set up by the Federal Government in collaboration with UNICEF in 1991, CWLN, in February 1996 was again invited by UNICEF for the review of the Federal Government UNICEF Urban Basic Service (UB S) and Children in Exceptional Difficult Circumstances (CEDC) 1997 - 2001 five year Country Programme and in August 1996 through its sponsorship (UNICEF), the League represented Nigerian NGOs at the 11th World Congress on Child Abuse and Neglect , Ireland

The Child Welfare League of Nigeria (CWLN), is a national non- governmental, humanitarian and not for profit organization. Its function is the protection, defence and promotion of the UN Convention and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of Children in Nigeria and the rest of the world.

Running an effective Out-of-Rome Care Centre for abused, abandoned, social environmental refugees (street children) and sexually exploited children, 33 little children and young teenagers have passed through the transitory home since its establishment in 1994.

The Centre was however officially open by the Surulere Local Government Chairman, on July 19 1996 , in commemoration of the June 16, 1996, Day of the African Child, and has, in the last three years, successfiilly re-united and settled about 65 neglected street children with their parents after adequate counselling on both sides, although about 30 percent are back on the streets, due to continued parental neglect and abuse.

The first abandoned baby in the centre was admitted on May 6, 1996 and precisely on the 25th December, 1996 (Christmas Day) and the 8th of January 1997, a baby girl and boy were respectively delivered at the centre by young pregnated and abandoned girls.

One of the major achievement of the centre was the recovery of day old baby Moses Akinyele dumped in the gutter (with rats having a field day), the arrest of the estranged teenage mother and the location and acceptance of the biological father to take full responsibility of the child.

CWLN was in late 1996, nominated by the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Lagos State for the organization's prestigious Award of Excellence (LANAX). Describing CWLN as the biggest and the most relevant local NGO In the area of Children Rehabilitation and Care, the award was in recognition of the League's excellent work in the area ofChild Rights Protection in Nigeria.

In observance of the 1994 International Year of the Family (IYF), CWLN served as a member of the National Planning Committee, constituted by the Federal Ministry of Health and Human Services and was.later, appointed a member of the National Task Force on the Education of the Girl Child.

The League was a signatory to the draft position paper of the International Conference on Population Development (ICPD Cairo '94).

CWLN has' consistently advocated for the enactment of the Child government after almost four years of the official presentation of Rights Decree which is yet to get the priority attention of the draft to the presidency.

On February 20, 1997, the Minister for Information and Culture, Dr. Walter Ofonagoro, while launching the CWLN quarterly newsletter "Child Rights Defender" during the organization's 5th Anniversary Celebration and 1st Annual Dinner Lecture, told the world and promised CWLN, that the long awaited Child Abuse Decree would soon be promulgated by the Head of State, General Sani Abacha.

In early 1997, CWLN was lauded and congratulated by the United Nations through its (UN) Information Centre Director Mrs. Janet Badjan-Young, for its (CWLN) "many important initiatives and contributions towards the welfare ofNigerian Children during the past five years"

UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION CHILDREN'S RIGHTS - HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Eglantyne Jebb, founder of Save the Children Fund (SCF) drafted a Children's Charter following her work with refugee children in the Balkans after the First World War. In 1923 she wrote: "I believe we should claim certain Rights for children and labour for their universal recognition"

In 1924, she achieved her ambition when the League of nations, the forefunner of the United Nations, adopted the Declaration of Child, otherwise known as the Declaration of Geneva. Ho'wever both the Declaration and the League' of Nations were rendered useless and powerless by the outbreak of the Second World war in 1939.

In 1948 the UN General Assembly approved the adoption of a Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The rights of children were implicitly included but it was thought that this was not enough and that the special act for children justified an additional separate document.

On the 2Oth day of November, 1959, the UN General Assembly adopted the second Declaration of the rights of the Child:

1979 was the International Year of the Child. During this year the 10 points of the Declaration (turn over leaf), were highly publicized. The Human Rights Commission of the UN Working Group started work on the draft of the Convention on the Rights of the Child which was originally submitted by the Government of Poland.

1989 Work on the draft of the Convention on the Rights of the Child was completed and adopted by the UN general Assembly on the 20th day ofNovember 1989.

CHILDREN'S RIGHTS WRITTEN IN 1959

1. to equality, regardless of race, colour, sex religion, national, or social origin.

2. to develop physically and mentally in a healthy manner.

3. to a name and. nationality.

4. to. adequate nutrition, housing and medical services.

5. to special care, if handicapped.

6. to love, understanding and protection.

7. to free education, to play and recreation.

8. to be among the first to receive relief in times of disaster.

9. to protection against all forms of neglect, cruelty and exploitation.

10. to be brought up in a spirit of tolerance, peace and universal brotherhood.

The new UN convention on the Rights of the Child became an Internationnal Law in 1990

THE UNCRC AND THE OAU CWLN

With about 71 Presidents and Prime Ministers, including the then Nigeria's Military Vice-President coming together for the first time in large number for the World Summit for Children in New York, a great promise of providing basic protection! for the normal physical and mental development of all the world's children was, on Sunday', September 30th, 1990 pronounced.

Realizing the importance of children to world peace, stability, the enhancement of democratic governance and respect for human dignity, the United Nations, recently stepped up its concern fdr the protection of the rights and welfare of all children by ensuring the compliance of State Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was signed and ratified by over three quarters of leaders that attended the global Summit for Children.

Ratification of the 1990 UN Convention on the. Rights of the Child, binds every States Parties (Countries) to comply witH the PRovisions and obligations it contains. A mechanism for monitoring their compliance is established in Articles 43,44 and 45 of the UN Convention.

Of the 193 Countries that attended the World Summit for Children in 1990, in New York, about 187 of them, had by March 1996, signed and ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Children (UNCRC).

In history, the UN Convention has become the most acceptable treaty that ever garnered such immense global attention and support.

Becoming one of the first nations to react positively, Nigeria precisely in Lagos on the 21st day of March 1991, had the UN CRC document, the text of which was adopted on the 20th day of November, 1989, ratified by the Military Government of General Ibrahim Babangida.

Of the 43 countries whose submission had been renewed by the Committee on the Rights of the Child by the end of 1995, 14 have incorporated the Convention into their Constitution while 35 of the 43 have passed new laws and amended existing laws.

Rights and Obligation of the Child brings into focus, the two international "Convention and Charter", the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCHRC) and the Organization of African Unity Charter on the Right and Welfare of Children (OAUCRWC).

In the two international treaties which have been signed and adopted by most nations of the world, all the articles contained therein are all similar in content and point to the full observance of the documents and the effective protection and security of the right and welfare of all children.

CWLN observed that Article 11 of the UNCRC is the only subjeci that is omitted in the OAUCRWC, while Article 31, a very vita measure for the effective control of children and the establishmen of discipline cannot be located in the UNCRC document.

The two articles state:

UNCRC Article 11:

1. States Parties shall take measures to combat the illici transfer and non-return of children abroad.

2. To this end, State Parties shall promote the conclusion of bilateral or multilateral agreements or accession to existinj agreements"

OAUCRWC Article 31:

Responsibilities of the Child - Every child shall have responsibilities towards his family and society, the state and legally recognize Communities and the international community. The child subject to his age and ability and such limitations as may be contained in the present Charter shall have the duty:

a. to work for the cohesion of the family, to respect his parents, superiors and elders at all times and to assist them in case of need;

b. to serve his national community by placing his physical and intellectual abilities at its service;

C. to preserve and strengthen social and national solidarity;

d. to preserve and strengthen African cultural values in his relations with other members of the society, in the spirit of tolerance, dialogue and consultation and to contribute to the moral well being of society;

.e. to preserve and strengthen the independence and the integrity of his country;

f. to contribute to the best of his abilities, at all times and at all levels, to the promotion and achievement of African Unity

JUNE 16, DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD

The Day of the African Child (DAC) is celebrated on June 16 in line with a declaration by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) which also enlisted the assistance of UNICEF in promoting the Day world-wide.

The International observation of DAC which has an historical background, as a result of the dreaded brutal massacre of hundreds of innocent Black African Children in Soweto in 1976 and their positive roles, in demanding their inalienable rights, will always serve as an inspiration to many other troubled nations. 13 year old Hector Peterson was the firstQ.hiid to be killed by the police for expressing his opinion as students in Soweto demonstrated against a new ruling by the Minister of Education on June 16, 1976. Hundreds were shot, killed, tortured and arrested.

The significance of DAC which came into effect in 1991, the same year CWLN was founded, is to be effectively observed as a lead to positive change for children throughout the continent and alerting the rest of the world to the situation of children in Africa.

Evaluation of DAC indicates that it has been instrumental in mobilizing support for the World Summit Declaration and Plan of Action of which Nigeria is a signatory, and the resultant National through Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island and terminated at the NTA, where the CWLN "Outstanding Children Ambassadorial" Award Plaque, Certificate and a Communique in aid of the disabled, were handed over to the representatives of the NTA Director General.

The major highlight of the 1997 Day of the African Child Celebration, is the, public presentation of this publication titled "Rights and Obligation of the Child" at "The Club", Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday the 16th day of June, 1997.

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE CHILD

1. Right to life, survive and develop.

2. to compulsory basic education and equal opportunity for higher education depending on his individual ability.

3. To enjoy the best attainable state of physical, mental and spiritual healthcare

4. Right against child labour and to be protected against torture, abuse, inhuman and degrading treatment, injury or assault.

5. Shall be entitled to the enjoyment of parental care and protection.

6. Right to protection from drug abuse, that is, the use of drugs like heroine, cocaine, indian hemp etc. or be used to traffic such.

7. Right to his rest, leisure and recreation.

8. Right to protection against harmful social and cultural practices, eg. female circumcision, early marriage and discrimination on the ground of sex.

9. Every handicapped child has a right to special protection which ensures his dig~ity and promotes his self reliance and active communial participation.

10. Every child must respect and assist his parents and elders, serve his family, community and promote African and global unity.

11. Right to protection from all forms of sexual exploitation or encouragement to engage in sexual activities or pornographic activities.

12. To a name, family and nationality.

Promoting the education of child rights and obligation

Considering the magnitude of the problem associated with the influx of street children, child abuse and neglect and in consonance with the World Summit on Children, the UN Convention Declaration and Nigerian Constitution of 1979 which guarantees the right of the child to life, education, good health, food, shelter and development, CWLN, after its intensive research on the population and root causes of the increase of neglect, abuse and abandonment, initiated the Child -to- Child Out Reach Project (CCORP) for schools in order to educate children not only in ensuring the protection of the'ir rights and that of others but to also bear in mind, their "obligations to their families, community and the society in general by making reference to Article 31 of the OAU Charter on the Rights and Welfare of Children: "Responsibilities of the Child".

In creating the enabling environment for the extensive promotion of the Convention on the Rights and Welfare of Children, CWLN on July 4, 1995 under its Child -to- Child Out Reach Project (CCORP), had the officers to administer the Ogun State University Chapter, inducted by the School's Vice Chancellor at an impressive ceremony held in the school's premises.

This was followed by the establishment of the Kwara State Polytechnic Chapter in Ilorin, Kwara, State.

To mark the May 27, 1997, National Children's Day,CWLN Student Chapters Kings College, Vivian Fowler Memorial College, St. Francis, St.Finbarrs, Cadoso High School, Iponri Estate High School,Pampers Private School, Redeemers International School, Wesley School for the Deaf and the Atanda Olu for the Physically Handicapped, were at the Atlantic Leisure Garden of the Federal Palace Hotel inaugurated and presented the CCORP/Chapter Certificates.

By the last quarter of the year 2001 projection, all major institutions across the country, would have established their Chapters and strengthen the programmes capacity, in an effort to promote the United Nations Convention and the African Charter starting with the child's own experience in relation to different rights and amongst youths, for eventual implementation of the covenants. The aim is to promote child rights education and partnership among children of all categories.

Students Chapters of CWLN drafted on CCORP are primarily, through training of trainers workshops, equipped on the knowledge of promoting, protecting, monitoring and advancing all aspects of the rights of the child as enshrined in the World Summit Convention.

MISSION STATEMENT: Rights and Obligations of the Child (ROC) shall be a series touching on all aspects of the rights and most importantly emphasising the obligations of the child to society; considering the salient fact that in the West, (most of the developed countries) the issue of rights were allowed to overshadow the sensitization of the child as to his or her obligation and civic duties.

In promoting the rights of the child in Africa, as compared to the advanced nations, ROC will in its subsequent editions take indepth analysis on the socio-economic and political situation in Nigeria and some major parts of Africa that could promote or inhibit the full implementation of the articles contained in the international covenants.

Organisation Contact Details:

Child Welfare League of Nigeria
Welfare House,
EE 17 Ramat Close/ Hussein Bello
U/Rimi, PO Box 10723
Kaduna
Tel: 00 234 62 216897
Email: cwln@rcl.nig.com
Website:

Last updated 29/03/2001 03:34:03