FOMWAN, Women Islamic Group Seeks End To Child Abuse, Molestation

Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) Lagos Chapter has urged government to punish parents who send their wards to trade on the streets.
Speaking during the programme to commemorate the International Day of Girl Child, FOMWAN Amirah Dr. Halimah Egberongbe said the celebration of girl child is to remind the society about the need to educate girl children.
“The government should enforce law banning girl child from hawking and also ensure that the parent of any child caught hawking be prosecuted.
By so doing, parent will desist from sending children to hawk and we will have more girls who will grow up as responsible women in the society.
“Educating the girl children will enhance their social and economic compatibility with men. It will empower them and aid their positive impacts in the society,” she said.
She lamented the rate of children hawking goods on the streets, wondering how it has become a norm.
“While hawking goods, girl child are subjected to sexual assault or other forms of violence,” she said.
According to her, educating the female children is one of the ways to eradicate poverty.
She urged government to prohibit child-hawking by prescribing penalties for the parents and guardians who allows children to hawk in the streets.
A teacher, Onilekere Junior High School in Lagos, Sekinah Bidmaasi said girl child harassment could be curbed through proper monitoring.
She urged the government to sensitise parents on the danger of child hawking.
“It is poverty that makes parents to allow their children to engage in hawking. Most children you see hawking are not happy doing it because they are being molested. The danger part is even when you ask them to go back to school, they found it difficult because they are exposed to quick money,” she said.
Bidmaasi added that if a girl child is not educated, she will be prone to sexual violence, domestic violence and immorality.