By Muhammad B Muhammad
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa state Monday assured the federal government and global partners that Adamawa will soon join other states in the country to passing the Child Right Act into law.
He revealed this when received a high powered delegation of EU-UN joint Spotlight Initiative led by the minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Dame Pauline Tallen in the Council Chambers Government House, Yola.
The Governor assured the delegation that their plea will be a reality as his administration will work with state legislators towards passing the act to reduce cases of child abuse in the state.
He stressed that his administration has always demonstrated zero tolerance to all forms of gender-based violence, as he has signed into law, Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP).
“Other significant programmes you support include second chance education opportunities to out of school girls, young women facing intersecting marginalization, those living with HIV, disability.
“Victims of early and unwanted pregnancy, child marriage, gender based violence, and rural poor and mainstream them back to formal education, women empowerment, protection surveillance group.
“Involvement of civil society groups, traditional institution and data management through the situation room domiciled at the ministry of women Affairs,” the Governor said.
Governor Fintiri revealed that Adamawa is among the five states implementing the European Union-United Narions joint initiative that achieved tremendous milestone in the past two years.
He thanked the global partners for establishment of sexual refferal centres in Yola and Numan which provide avenue for survivors of sexual and gender-based to receive appropriate support and care.
“Between November and December 2021 the office of the director of Public Prosecution has received about 30 case diaries from the police and we would make sure that perpetrators are put on our sexual Offenders Database and are punished accordingly.
“Let us not forget that the comprehensive plan of action to build a global partnership for sustainable development to improve human lives and protect the environment is vested in all of us. My government is open to partnering with you all in order o make the 2030 agender,” he said.
The Governor further said that the office of the Attoney General of the state with Support from the European Union EU is set to launch the Adamawa state sexual Offenders Database.
He disclosed that between November and December 2021 the office of the director of Public Prosecution has received about 30 case diaries from the police and government would ensure perpetrators are brought to justice.
Earlier in her remarks, the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Dame Pauline Tallen saluted Governor Fintiri for the stringent measures put in place towards eliminating violence against women and children.
Mrs Tallen commended Governor Fintfor passage of Violence Against Persons Provision Act (VAPP) but decried that Adamawa is among the six states that is yet to pass the child right act into law.
After the visit, Governor Umaru alongside the delegation has proceeded to Modibbo Adama University, MAU Yola where he inspected the newly established Forensic Laboratory.
The laboratory being the first of its kind in West Africa was commissioned by Ulla Mueller, United Nations Population Fund Nigeria Country Representative on the fifteenth of December, twenty twenty.
The Minister’s delegation to Adamawa comprise of Minister Of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, and Resident Coordinator UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Mr Mathias Solmak among others.
