Group seeks protection over street children

The Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS), a non-governmental organisation, has called for deliberate, sustained action to ensure that every child, regardless of circumstance, is afforded dignity, protection, and the opportunity to thrive.

The group, in a statement signed by Okoye, Chuka Peter, its executive director, to mark the 2026 International Day for Street Children, said that a society that fails to safeguard its children ultimately undermines its own future.

CEHRAWS asserted that no child should be criminalised for circumstances rooted in poverty, displacement, or systemic failure, noting that street-connected children are not offenders, but victims of structural inequalities and, above all, holders of inalienable rights.

They said that access to justice for street-connected children must go beyond mere legal formalities; it must encompass protection from abuse, exploitation, and arbitrary detention, as well as access to child-friendly justice systems and legal representation.

“It must guarantee humane and respectful treatment by law enforcement authorities, ensure that the voices of children are heard in decisions affecting them, and provide genuine pathways for rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

“When children are punished for survival behaviours, such as hawking, scavenging, or sleeping in public spaces, the system abdicates its moral and legal responsibility. Such responses neither address the root causes of the problem nor offer sustainable solutions; rather, they exacerbate the vulnerability of these children.”

CEHRAWS acknowledged the Government of Abia State for the visible transformation and developmental strides recorded across critical sectors, noting that the infrastructural renewal and administrative reforms have, to a commendable extent, given the state a new and progressive outlook.

They however. observed that true development must be measured not only by physical infrastructure, but also by the extent to which human dignity, especially that of children, is protected and upheld.

In this regard, CEHRAWS respectfully called on the Abia State Government to ensure the effective implementation of the Child Rights Act (as domesticated in the state), moving beyond policy declarations to practical enforcement, particularly in safeguarding street-connected children.

They called for the immediate constitution of a multi-stakeholder technical committee, comprising relevant government ministries and agencies, legal practitioners, judicial actors, civil society organisations, and the Abia State Child Protection Network, to undertake a comprehensive review of the State’s Child Rights Law with a view to making it more autochthonous, responsive, and aligned with the socio-cultural realities of Abia State.

“Additionally, we strongly advocate for the revival of existing destitute homes or the establishment of new, functional rehabilitation centres across the three senatorial zones of the state. Such facilities will provide safe shelter, psychosocial support, educational opportunities, and structured reintegration pathways for street-connected children.

“This represents a pragmatic and humane approach to addressing the growing population of children on the streets who, if left unattended, remain at risk of exploitation and may inadvertently contribute to broader social challenges.”

CEHRAWS stated that street-connected children are not a nuisance to be displaced; they are citizens to be protected and potentials to be nurtured, noting that their presence on the streets reflects systemic gaps that require urgent, coordinated, and compassionate intervention.

The theme of the 2026 International Day for Street Children is ‘Access to Justice: Protect, Not Punish”.