Borno: CISLAC Urges CSOs to Advocate Budgetary Support for Child Rights Law
By Ahmed Kaigama
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has urged Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Borno to intensify advocacy for dedicated budgetary support for the implementation of the Child Rights Protection Law in the state.
Mr Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director of CISLAC, made the call on Wednesday in Maiduguri at a training for CSOs on advocacy for improved implementation of child rights.
Rafsanjani, represented by Mr Solomon Adoga, Senior Programme Manager of CISLAC, said the absence of a specific budget line for child rights protection remained a major challenge to the effective implementation of the law.
He said although Borno had enacted the Child Rights Protection Law, inadequate funding had continued to limit the capacity of relevant institutions to effectively implement its provisions.
According to him, CSOs have a critical role to play in engaging the government, lawmakers and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure that child protection receives adequate attention in the state budget.
“One of the ways out of this quagmire is to have a budget line so that the Child Rights Law can fully take its course in the state.
“CSOs must support the government in ensuring that child rights and child protection units are strengthened,” he said.
The CISLAC executive director also called for increased public awareness and advocacy to enable citizens to understand the provisions of the Child Rights Law and contribute to its effective implementation.
He identified lack of continuity in child protection programmes as another challenge, stressing the need for sustainable funding to ensure that interventions were not disrupted.
Rafsanjani further urged CSOs to advocate for specific budgetary provisions for meetings of relevant child protection committees.
He said such funding would enable the committees to meet regularly, review their activities and strengthen coordination among institutions responsible for protecting children.
Mr Murtala Mohammed, Administrative Officer, CISLAC, said adequate funding would provide agencies responsible for enforcing the law with the resources needed to discharge their responsibilities effectively.
Mohammed said child rights encompassed access to quality education, safe and decent shelter, healthcare and protection from abuse, neglect and other forms of harm.
He urged CSOs to monitor budget allocations and expenditure on child protection interventions to promote transparency, accountability and sustainability.
He said effective monitoring would also help ensure that funds earmarked for child protection were properly utilised and translated into tangible benefits for children across the state.
