CHILD MOLESTATION, RAPE AND ABUSE ATTRACT SEVERE PUNISHMENT, UNDER THE LAW – Princess Peace Nnaji

Commissioner for Gender Affairs and Social Development Enugu State,  Princess Peace Nnaji has reminded the public that child molestation, rape and abuse attract severe punishment, under the law.

Princess Nnaji stated this in a message to the sensitization of communities in the state to the importance of birth registration of the National population Commission and the need to end child abuse, rape and gender based violence.

The Commissioner, represented by a permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Amaka Okenwa-Uzoechina noted that rape against children, was on the increase and often perpetuated by relatives and guardians of the victims. In an address, a child specialist in the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Enugu Field Office, Mr. Victor Atuchukwu urged traditional rulers, the clergy, parents and other stakeholders to preach moral and ensure that birth certificate of children were obtained from the National Population Commission.

Mr Atuchukwu who represented the chief of the Field Office, stated that children as future leaders deserve to be treated right. The Enugu State Director, National Population Commission, Miss Ngozi Onyia explained that birth certificate for persons of zero to below eighteen years is free and could be obtained from health centres in the state.

Traditional rulers of two of the communities visited Igwe Innocent Anyalogu of NgwoAssaa and Igwe Julius Nnaji of Nike, in separate submissions, pledged to sensitize their subjects to the dangers of rape and abuse of woman and children.

An official of the Enugu state  ministry of Health, Dr. Uche Okenwa who was part of the sensitization team, enlightened the people  on covid-19,including the measures put in place to ensure its containment.