AFRICA/NIGERIA -
Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - "We underline the urgent need of priests, religious, parents, guardians, catechists, teachers and government to be informed about child's rights in the Church and society, so that they may become actively involved in promoting and upholding the dignity of children worldwide. We commend those States Government that have already domesticated, approved and enacted the Nigerian Child Rights Act of 2003," says the conclusive statement sent to Agenzia Fides, from the School of Missionary Animators (SOMA), promoted by the Pontifical Society of the Holy Childhood Association of Nigeria.
The course for missionary animators was held October 7-14 at the Diocesan Pastoral Center of Issele-Uku, in the State of Delta, in southern Nigeria, at the close of the National Council of the Pontifical Mission Societies of Nigeria.
In his address, Monsignor Hypolite Adigwe, National Director of the PMS in Nigeria, deplores the fact that only 12 of Nigeria's 36 states have supported the Child Rights Act of 2003, which enables them to prosecute crimes against children in those states.
"We are aware that some States are apprehensive and reluctant to subscribe to the Child's right. We wish to remind all that child's right are not dependent on legislation. They are inalienable rights of every child. Such rights enhance the dignity of children," the statement affirms.
The Pontifical Society of the Holy Childhood Association intends to start an awareness campaign for the promotion of children's rights articulated in the following points: that children to know their rights and privileges in the Church and society; organize seminars and talks for the priests, religious, teachers, catechist, parents, guardians and other pastoral agents on their responsibility towards promoting and upholding the child's rights; promote the animation of children in parishes, schools and family."
They also recommend that each diocese should more vigorously promote the Holy Childhood and provide formation for animators of HCA; that each diocese embarks on an awareness campaign for the promotion and domestication of the child's right by State Government; that the HCA apostolate be included in the curriculum of Catholic schools; that all dioceses keep in view the activities of children in their pastoral and liturgical plans.
"We call on the Church and government to continue to protect children from all forms of violence, such as child trafficking, kidnapping, cultism, ritual murder and abortion and so on. We condemn in strong terms religious leaders, preachers, healers, parents and institutions who stigmatize children by branding them as witches and demonic children. Finally, in this year dedicated to priests, we urge all priests to pay more attention to the catechetical and missionary formation of children; we enjoin them to establish children's libraries in parishes," the statement concludes. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 19/10/2009)
