To commemorate World Children’s Day, the Headfort Foundation conducted advocacy on fundamental children’s rights at Ikosi Senior High School, amplifying the importance of these rights to the students.
Mrs. Oluyemi Orija, the Executive Director of the Foundation, expressed the significance of celebrating children’s rights on this global day. She emphasised the need for children to understand their rights, be aware of how to protect them and know where to seek help in case of any violations.
“Our objective today was to sensitise the students about their rights under the Child Rights Act of 2003. We engaged them in group sessions, providing them with a preliminary knowledge of human rights, enabling them to exhibit their understanding, and correcting misconceptions,” Orija stated.
Furthermore, Orija stressed the importance of empowering children to speak up when their rights are violated, guiding them in reporting infringements to higher authorities. She highlighted the Foundation’s mission to educate students extensively on their fundamental rights as children.
Highlighting a significant issue, Orija noted the lack of information regarding where to report rights infringements, particularly financial, domestic, or sexual violations. Headfort Foundation aims to break barriers by advocating for safe reporting spaces within schools.
The school’s management expressed gratitude to the Foundation for educating the children about their fundamental rights and fostering awareness about reporting violations.
During the event, students actively engaged, asking questions related to girl-child rights infringements. The theme for the 2023 World Children’s Day is “For every child, every right,” aligning with the Foundation’s mission to promote and protect children’s rights.
World Children’s Day, celebrated on November 20th annually, aims to enhance international unity, increase children’s awareness globally, and improve their welfare. This significant date marks the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child by the UN General Assembly in 1959 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989, underscoring the ongoing commitment to children’s rights since 1990.
