Civil society organisations have been urged to strengthen advocacy, policy engagement and accountability efforts to address gaps in the implementation of child rights and improve child protection systems in Nigeria.
The call was underscored at a training programme on Advocacy for Improved Child Rights Implementation, organised in Jos, Plateau State, by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), in partnership with SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria and Jireh Doo Foundation, with support from the European Commission under the European Union Support to Child Protection Systems in Nigeria (EUSCPSN) Project.
The training brought together civil society actors to strengthen their capacity to advocate for children’s rights, influence policy decisions and engage relevant government institutions and stakeholders responsible for child protection.
The initiative was designed to deepen participants’ understanding of child rights advocacy while equipping them with practical knowledge and tools to address implementation gaps, promote effective policy enforcement and demand greater accountability from institutions charged with protecting children.
t also emphasised the importance of sustained collaboration among civil society organisations, government agencies and other stakeholders in ensuring that existing child protection policies and legal frameworks translate into tangible improvements in the lives of children.
Through practical learning, knowledge sharing and strategic engagement, the organisers seek to strengthen the capacity of CSOs to champion children’s rights and contribute to building a more responsive, inclusive and effective child protection system in Nigeria.
The initiative reinforces the position that protecting children requires more than the existence of laws and policies, but also informed advocacy, strong partnerships, active citizen participation and sustained institutional accountability.
