Research by The Freedom Fund shows that 89% of children work in conditions that violate one or more of the Child Rights Act and 35 % enter domestic work before the age of 10. Studies from the International Labour Organization also show that Southeast Nigeria has the highest percentage of child labour in the country at 49.9 %. All these further indicate how serious this challenge is and the need to take action.
Understanding the severity of this issue, South Saharan Social Development Organization, SSDO, in collaboration with the Enugu State Ministry of Children, Gender Affairs, and Social Development organized a high-level meeting to tackle exploitative child domestic work in southeast Nigeria.
The meeting was an avenue to discuss actionable solutions and develop a structured framework for interstate collaboration on exploitative child domestic work and broader child protection measures.
The meeting saw key stakeholders including Commissioners of Gender, Police, Justice, and State House Committee Chairmen on Gender from states around the southeast deliberate and proffer solutions to curbing exploitative Child Domestic Work in the region.
There was also a breakout session that enabled participants to brainstorm solutions that will be developed into a communique and form a road map for improved care for children.
Aside from the research listed above that formed the basis for the conversation, SSDO also unveiled its research work, “Child Domestic Work in Southeast Nigeria: Legal Frameworks and Policy Recommendations” which highlighted flaws in legislations and marquee areas for capacity strengthening especially in the judicial sector regarding CDWs in southeast Nigeria.
