The Country Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Peter Hawkins has said that the COVID-19 pandemic has threatened children’s rights to education and health. Hawkins raised the alarm Thursday in a statement issued to mark Children’s Day in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital. “These threats come at a challenging moment for child rights in the country and across the globe,” he said, noting that the COVID-19 is threatening the gains made for children’s development. He said that it has been a challenging year for us all, as the pandemic has affected Nigerian children despite the efforts made by all levels of Nigerian government. On the celebration of Children’s Day, he said: “As we rightfully celebrate Nigerian children today, let us also remember that the COVID-19 crisis has been a child rights crisis not only in Nigeria, but across the globe.” Besides, he lamented that; “Poverty and inequality are growing, while the pandemic has often disrupted the essential services that secure the health, education and protection of children and the young. He noted that the longer the pandemic goes on, the more intense the impact on women and children. “Let us all agree that we cannot let one crisis compound another in denying children’s rights to education and health,” he warned. According to him, COVID-19 is threatening decades of progress we have made for children. He said violence is perpetrated against one in four Nigerian children and one in three Nigerian girls are sexually abused. “This has only increased during the pandemic,” he said, stating that there must be commitments to reinforce the protection mechanisms for all children. He said that protecting children and investing in women and families is not only the right thing to do. “We must act in their best interests and deploy innovative solutions to fast-track learning and health services to build back better, for every child,” he said.
