JDPC, child devt expert advocate compulsory training on child abuse prevention education for child handlers

…lament prevalence of abuse of minors, vulnerable adults

By Ogundele Olanrewaju

The Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), Ibadan and a child protection and development activist, Mrs. Patricia Abokede, yesterday, lamented the prevalence of abuse of minors and vulnerable adults in the country.

The Programme Officer with Women Development Programme and Child’s Right Programme of JDPC, Ibadan, Mr. Olanipekun Ayorinde and its Head of Programmes, Mrs. Omotayo Mala-Adebayo and Mrs. Abokede, said abuse of minors and vulnerable adults posed a serious danger to the society.

They spoke during a two-day capacity building and training workshop on the abuse of minors and vulnerable adults in Oyo and Osun States, which took place at JDPC centre, Bashorun, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Ayorinde said, the malice would affect the future of the abused and the society.

He said:”You will agree with me that child abuse is prevalent, because it is everyday’s experience. It is commonplace. It happens every now and then.”

“The role of children in the society cannot be overemphasized, having to do with their present and future. So, once the child is affected that means we are designing the kind of the future for ourselves.”

“If the children will not have opportunities as a result of the abuse, having normal experience as children, it will affect their development process. It will, of course, influences what they will come out to become in the society.”

Speaking on the programme, Ayorinde said: “The purpose of this training is to build the capacity of the persons that handle children. Child handlers fall into different categories.”

“They include school teachers, religious teachers, professionals from different sectors as well as parents and guardians to see that as they handle children they are able to protect the children from all forms of abuse.”

“The training is to help them to know more about children and their experiences. To know more about what constitutes child abuse and to be able to recognize and respond appropriately to abuse and to be able to make the organisation and institution they represent safe.”

On her part, Mrs. Adebayo lamented that: “We notice that there are a lot abuses against children and vulnerable people despite available laws and policies. Children are still being abused. Child handlers are not taking children for who they are.”

“To train child handlers by building capacity towards understanding children and childhood, understanding child abuse recognizing child abuse and making organisations safe for children.”

Abokede who is one of the facilitators of the training, said dangers of child abuse are enormous and long-lasting.

According to her: “child abuse is like a cycle. It is a past-down tradition which has been embedded in our culture.”

“There are four main categories of abuse. They are physical, emotional, neglect and sexual abuses. All these lead to sexual abuses.”

She, therefore, called on the government to make all child handlers undergo compulsory training on child abuse prevention education.