Stakeholders in the Ogun State Judiciary Family Court have called for a strengthened legislative and institutional frameworks to protect children with the needed protection against violence, abuse and exploitation in the State.
The framework according to the stakeholders would ensure children in humanitarian situation have timely and sustained access to quality preventive and responsive child protection services.
Mr Martins Akinyemi ,Deputy Chief Registrar (Legal) of the High Court, made the call, while delivering a paper on “providing care and protection for children in need” at a one day training for stakeholders in the family court at the Judiciary Headquarters along Kobape Road, Abeokuta.
Akinyemi, said that unnecessary child reproduction should be curbed and enforced by the government to reduce improper parental care on their Children.
“Government at all levels should be ready to play their roles at establishing and promoting virile Children Justice system within the Polity”.
“ More enlightenment must be done on Family Planning to reduce unnecessary Procreation in the society” he said
Also, Mr Kehinde Egbeolowo, Director, Social Welfare Services, at Ogun State Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Development, while delivering his paper,
noted that the challenges facing children in the 21st century are immensed and will need to be faced if we are to achieve the goal of child protection for all.
He also said that Child care Institution should be discouraged while the Family Based Care arrangement to be sustained for children to be given an adequate care.
He however said there was need for a strengthened capacities of government and key holders including social welfare and juvenile justice services that can prevent and respond to violence against children.
Hon. Adijat Oladapo-Adeleye, Special Adviser to Ogun State governor on Women Affairs, applaud the laudable programme organised by the Ogun State Judiciary, urging participants especially those siting on matters involving Children to be holistically just in the cases.
Earlier, Chairman of the training, Justice S.M Owodunni, in his address, urged participants to always find themselves saving a family which by extension they are saving the society.
The stakeholders in the family court include the Chief and Senior Magistrates, Probation Officers, Assessors and Proprietors of Approved Homes in Ogun State.
