UNICEF and Child Right Abuse in Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Child abuse is a global problem that needs to be tackled, even though children are given the

rights and freedom to enjoy. It includes all forms of physical and emotional ill-treatment,

sexual abuse, neglect, and exploitation that result in actual or potential harm to the child's

health, development or dignity. This study was aimed at investigating the role of UNICEF in

mitigating child right abuse in Nigeria. Survey design was adopted and data were generating

from secondary and primary sources; using interview method. Data were content analysed.

The study found that Children in Nigeria are largely misused, maltreated and assaulted by

parents, care givers and the society, there is a shortage of information on the efforts and

initiatives of the UNICEF, especially in Nigeria, and this is negative for minimize child right

abuse in Nigeria. Hence it concluded that the child right act should be implemented in every

state in Nigeria because this will help checkmate the actions of very citizens toward children

in Nigeria. The following recommendations were made based on the findings above; the

government should emphasis the implementation of the child right act, at national, state and

local government level, while persuading states that are yet to domesticate the act to do so,

UNICEF should document properly their efforts in Nigeria, and make same available to the

Nigerian public for research and other policy purposes.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ....................................................................................................................... ii

CERTIFICATION ................................................................................................................... iii

DEDICATION .......................................................................................................................... iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ......................................................................................................... v

Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... vi

CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................................ 1

INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Background to the Study ...................................................................................................... 1

1.2 Statement of Problem ........................................................................................................... 4

1.3 Objective of the Study ......................................................................................................... 5

1.4 Research Question ............................................................................................................... 5

1.5 Significance of the Study ..................................................................................................... 5

1.6 Scope and Delimitation of the Study ................................................................................... 6

1.7 Definition of Terms.............................................................................................................. 6

CHAPTER TWO ....................................................................................................................... 8

LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ......................................... 8

2.0 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 8

2.1 Literature Review................................................................................................................. 8

2.1.1 Conceptualizing Child Right Abuse ................................................................................. 8

2.1.2 Issues of Child’s Right Abuse......................................................................................... 10

2.1.2.1 Specific Child Right ..................................................................................................... 11

2.1.2.2 Basic Child Rights ....................................................................................................... 13

2.1.3 Historical Development of UNICEF .............................................................................. 15

2.1.4 Traditions, Gender, Discrimination and Child Abuse in Nigeria ................................... 17

2.1.4.1 Early Marriages ............................................................................................................ 17

2.1.4.2 Child Labour ................................................................................................................ 19

2.1.4.3 Female Genital Mutilation ........................................................................................... 23

2.1.4.4 Female Infanticide and Sex-Selective Abortion .......................................................... 28

2.1.4.5 Gender Discrimination ................................................................................................. 29

2.1.4.6 Discrimination against Children With inabilities ........................................................ 30

2.1.5 United Nations and Child Right Abuse in Nigeria ......................................................... 33

2.2 Theoretical Framework ...................................................................................................... 36

2.2.1 Human Security theory ................................................................................................... 36

CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................................. 39

CHILD RIGHT ABUSE IN NIGERIA ................................................................................... 39

3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 39

3.2 Historical Overview of Child Right in Nigeria .................................................................. 39

3.2 Nature of Child Right Abuse in Nigeria ............................................................................ 40

3.2.1 Forms of child abuse ....................................................................................................... 43

3.3 Legislating Child Right in Nigeria ..................................................................................... 46

3.4 Implications of Child Abuse in Nigeria ............................................................................. 47

3.5 Overcoming Child Abuse in Nigeria ................................................................................. 48

CHAPTER FOUR .................................................................................................................... 50

ASSESSING UNICEF AND CHILD RIGHT ABUSE IN NIGERIA .................................... 50

4.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 50

4.1 Denotation of Child Right Abuse ...................................................................................... 50

4.2 Distinctive ways in which child abuse is exhibited in Nigeria. ......................................... 51

4.3 Noticeable efforts of UNICEF in curbing Child Abuse in Nigeria. .................................. 52

4.4 Improving UNICEF efforts against Child Abuse in Nigeria. ............................................ 53

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION ................................................ 54

5.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 54

5.1 Summary of findings.......................................................................................................... 54

5.2 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 54

5.3 Recommendations .............................................................................................................. 55

5.4 Suggested further Studies .................................................................................................. 56

Reference ................................................................................................................................. 56

Appendix……………………………………………………………………………………. 60