A youth-led anti-human trafficking and human rights organisation, Devatop Centre for Africa Development, has called on the Nigerian government to strengthen policies protecting Child Domestic Workers’ rights and dignity.

Devatop’s Executive Director, Joseph Osuigwe, made this call at a stakeholders’ policy dialogue in Lagos on Saturday, aimed at reviewing progress since the first dialogue in April.

He emphasised the need for effective policy implementation to safeguard CDWs.

He explained that the dialogue addressed child domestic worker exploitation, policy gaps, and effective implementation.

Mr Osuigwe stressed that protecting children from exploitation was a civic duty and not charity.

He expressed optimism that the dialogue would yield practical plans to strengthen policy implementation.

He said, “Devatop has made significant progress through training programmes, community engagement, and support services.”

He added that the efforts so far include training CDWs and their guardians on child rights and safeguarding, and establishing the CDWs Rights Forum in two communities with over 80 participants

He identified others to include training of 40 community influencers as child rights champions and launch of a forum to promote child protection and responding to reported child abuse cases and engaging community influencers in awareness campaigns.

The Lagos Commander of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Comfort Agboko, called for strong synergy among stakeholders and partners to create a child-safe environment.
She emphasised effective coordination and collaboration between state and non-state actors.

Ms Agboko advocated the training of law enforcement officers and judges, increasing access to justice for children, and rebranding law-enforcement units handling children’s issues.

Representatives from key organisations, including the Freedom Fund, Ministry of Labour and the National Human Rights Commission, attended the event, demonstrating their commitment to addressing CDW exploitation.

(NAN)