MEDIA RELEASE

31 March 2014   

Global Network urges Government of Nigeria to address child marriage, child trafficking

ECPAT International releases latest country monitoring report, the status of action against commercial sexual exploitation of children in Nigeria        

BANGKOK, Thailand—ECPAT International, a global network of organisations dedicated to ending the commercial sexual exploitation of children, published a country monitoring report today, outlining the status of action against the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) in Nigeria.

The report is one of a series of reports examining countries around the world and their policies and laws to protect against CSEC. ECPAT’s Nigeria monitoring report looks at all manifestations of CSEC within the country, including child prostitution, child sexual abuse materials (child pornography) and the trafficking of children for sexual purposes.

Nigeria has signed and ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. It has also ratified the ILO Convention on Worst Forms of Child Labour and the UN Trafficking Protocol.In 2008, Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to combat the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents at the World Congress III against the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents, held in Brazil.

Addressing Nigeria’s pressing poverty problem and low birth registration rates is a central concern for the reduction of CSEC within the country. Other concerns include reducing the social stigma surrounding child sexual abuse and addressing the prevalence of orphaned and vulnerable children. The country has made significant strides in combating CSEC, much of which has centred on ending the trafficking of children for sexual purposes. However, the report recommends that the government focus on implementing comprehensive programmes and initiatives targeted at eliminating all manifestations of CSEC.

ECPAT affiliate organisation in Nigeria, WOCON, focuses on combating the trafficking of women and children, particularly through advocacy, research and direct action programmes on child trafficking. "WOCON strongly urges the Government of Nigeria to act on the recommendations in this report,” said Bisi Olateru-Olagbegi, Executive Director of WOCON. More importantly, WOCON asks the government to “abolish all customary practices that support the sale of children in marriage and provide a uniform marriage age of 18 to better protect Nigerian children from commercial sexual exploitation."

The full report on the status of action against commercial sexual exploitation of children in Nigeria is available at: http://www.ecpat.net/sites/default/files/A4A2011_AF_NIGERIA_FINAL.pdf

About WOCON:The Women’s Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON) is a non-governmental, non-profit, non-partisan and non-religious organisation committed to the enforcement of women’s and children’s rights and the attainment of equality, development and peace. WOCON focuses on combating the trafficking of women and children, particularly through advocacy, research and direct action programmes on child trafficking. For more information please visit http://www.womenconsortiumofnigeria.org

About ECPAT International:ECPAT International is a global network of organisations dedicated to ending the commercial sexual exploitation of children. ECPAT focuses on the four key manifestations of CSEC: child prostitution, child pornography/child sexual abuse materials, sexual exploitation of children through travel and tourism, and the trafficking of children for sexual purposes. Today, the ECPAT network is comprised of an International Secretariat based in Thailand, together with 81 member organisations in 74 countries. For more information, please visit www.ecpat.net

Contacts:

Karyn Stone

ECPAT International

Bangkok, Thailand  

karyns@ecpat.net

+66 2 215 3388                                                                       

Bisi Olateru-Olagbegi                                                             

WOCON Lagos, Nigeria                                                                  wocon95@yahoo.com

+234 (0) 8033347896