Niger Delta Child Rights Watch Project

Niger Delta Child Rights Watch is an innovative project to document, monitor and investigate cases of child rights abuse across the Niger Delta. Although there are numerous children who have sadly suffered abuses of their rights, many cases are never reported or documented, and children do not receive the help that they need to move on with their lives. Few perpetrators are ever arrested or brought to justice for their crimes against children and there is a widespread lack of knowledge of the laws which protection children and their rights in Nigeria.

Phase 1

In June 2010 SSN initiated the first phase of the Niger Delta Child Rights Watch project in conjunction with the NGO Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development, who are based in Rivers State in the Niger Delta. Phase 1 ran for one year and documented over 75 cases of child rights abuse in four Niger Delta states, covering issues such as sexual assault, child labour, trafficking, child prostitution, violence and neglect, accusations of witchcraft and street children. Arrests were made in 25 cases and charges brought in 10 with a further 5 cases ongoing.

 Niger Delta Child Rights Watch Newsletter - Issue 1

Phase 2

Phase 2 of Niger Delta Child Rights Watch began in October 2011 and expanded the initial project in several ways:

• The project now includes two other Nigerian NGOs – Basic Rights Counsel Initiative, based in Cross River State, and Stepping Stones Nigeria Child Empowerment Foundation, based in Akwa Ibom State.
• The project is also supported by an intern from the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales, who will assist in the systematic documentation and monitoring of child rights abuse cases.
• The project provides medical care, counselling and other forms of support to children whose rights have been abused.
• Each project partner has a lawyer whose specific role is to support litigation to ensure children’s right of access to justice.
• Each project partner is conducting wide-ranging advocacy activities to raise awareness and improve protection of child rights across the Niger Delta.