The Imo Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Nkechinyere Ugwu, says the state government will welcome an amendment to the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act.
The Commissioner said this while addressing newsmen in Owerri, on Thursday.
Ugwu who noted that an amendment to the Act rather than its repeal would suffice, urged stakeholders such as parents, guardians and child care experts to study the Act so as to be well acquainted with it rather than depend on heresy.
She said that child labour, victimization of house helps, and abuse of children by step parents was on the rise , and urged parents and guardians to desist from giving out their children and wards as house helps.
“ We caution, in strong terms, actions of step-parents who maltreat, brutalize, and victimize the children left in their care.
“ The ministry will ensure that anyone caught will be made to face the full wrath of the law to serve as a deterrent to other step parents/guardians who have made it a normal tradition.
“ We have also observed with dismay the rate of hawking by underage children during school hours; this is child labour, and a crime against humanity “, she said.
She hailed stakeholders including Civil Society Organisations for their proactive efforts in the fight against violence against vulnerable populations and called on the general public to report incidents of child labour, abuse and victimization to the ministry for appropriate action.
She thanked the state Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, for his continuous logistics and moral support which has enabled the ministry reach out to vulnerable Imo people.
She also thanked the Governor’s wife, Mrs Chioma Uzodinma, for her programs, projects and policies which have supported and complemented the efforts of the ministry.
She pledged commitment to the stipulations of the VAPP law and other extant provisions which punish convicted offenders and assured of continued synergy between the ministry and all stakeholders.
