Caregivers and parents most especially have been reminded of the need to pay particularly attention to children’s rights as the global goal is to attain zero discrimination against children.
This was part of the summation of the guest lecturer, Mrs. Peju Osoba, during an interactive session put together by Restoration Of The Dignity Of Womanhood (ROTDOW) to mark 2022 International Day of the Child.
Mrs. Osoba who said inclusion and equality for children must be visible in all areas inclusive of their survival rights to health (immunisation, child and maternal health, identity), to development rights such as education, religion and leisure and as well as to protection rights from abuse, maltreatment, exploitation, trafficking and child labour among others.
While exploring key definitions of inclusion, equality and discrimination, Mrs. Osoba noted the roles being played by the United Nations Convention on the Right of the child since it came into being on November 20, 1989 in protecting children’s welfare.
“The rights of children as enumerated in the UNCRC, CRA and the CRLs identified rights to survival, rights to development, rights to protection and rights to participation. Children also have rights to participation.
The rights under participation refer to the right for children to be involved in decisions that concern them, the right to association, the rights to leisure. Now, this set of rights is expected to be respected while ensuring that children enjoy their rights to survival, development and protection”, she added saying every child, rich, poor, black, white, male, female, blind, deaf, dumb or crippled, regardless of their race, ethnicity, location should enjoy every of these rights.
She particularly charged parents not to overlook the ability of some children because of certain “weaknesses”.
“We do not pay attention to their strengths. We sometimes end up taking over their lives without allowing them to make any contribution to their own wellbeing. I often say to parents and caregivers ” do not do for a child what she/ he can do for her/himself”. Involving children is including them. This simply could end up being a protective skill for them to escape abuse. Involving children is teaching them what I call “auto-protection”.
In her charge to social workers, individuals and organisations that work with children, Mrs. Osoba restated the need to involve children in programmes at planning, implementation and evaluation levels.
“Their opinions must begin to count at planning stage, their hands felt at implementation and voices heard in evaluation. This way, we meet their real and not perceived needs. Within our families, we must practice inclusion”
On the import of inclusiveness of children with special needs in education, Mrs. Osoba said research has shown that having them in places where they have access to children who do not have special needs help both categories of children to develop and learn emotional social skills.
“When you practice inclusion as a parent, you prevent sibling rivalry. Non inclusion leads to preferential treatment for some children and makes others feel unwanted. Sibling rivalry when unchecked with children could lead to conflicts when they grow to be adults. Do not forget that many of the behaviours and attitudes that we display as adults are those we imbibed as children. Inclusion will teach children equality and equity”, she further stressed saying it will go a long way in endearing
a safe environment that makes childhood a great experience that will produce well-adjusted and balanced adults.
Earlier in her remarks, the CEO, ROTDOW, Mrs. Olabisi Omolona said the goal of the interactive session is to equip parents and caregivers with the necessary skills they need to raise balanced children for a healthy society.
