“Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. The aim is to help everyone understand the part they can play in protecting children and adults, and ensuring that vulnerable people are kept safe.”
In the United Kingdom, there are legislations relevant to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, irrespective of where they came from. For example, The Children Act 1989 places a duty on Local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children who are in need in their area. They are responsible for promoting the upbringing of children by their families, through varied appropriate services, suitable to the needs of the children.
Another section of the Act also states that a child shall be taken to be in need if:
The child is unlikely to achieve or maintain, to have the opportunity of achieving or maintaining, a reasonable standard of health or development without the provision of services by local authority under part III of the Children Act 1989.
The child’s health or development is likely to be significantly impaired, or further impaired, without the provision of such services; or The child is disabled.
There are other sections and sub-sections under the act, all in protection of every child in the United Kingdom. For the reasons of protection and safeguarding, every Nigerian and anyone coming going to the United Kingdom must ensure the followings:
- Comfortable, protective, and appropriate accommodation for your child(ren)
- Your child must not be under any harm, or likelihood of harm
- No child under your care is subject to any significant harm, or protection concern
- All actions and decisions taken on behalf of a child must be in the child’s interest, needs, feelings, and wishes (with regard to the child’s age and understanding).
- Give a child the care that it would be reasonable for a parent to give
- Parents have the responsibility to inform the school authority with information that
can help safeguard their child and protect them from harm. - Ensure that you use your traditional belief and value to shape your child’s approach to life in different areas such as food, language and lifestyle, including their emotional and social development, without disrespecting their needs and rights.
_____________________________ Fatoki Taiye Timmy is an innovative social development and human rights specialist with 15+ years experience in the development sector and with special focus on the West Africa Region. Has a strong track record of delivering technical support in educational programmes, highly competent in capacity development, institutional reforms, child rights and protection, youth development, and gender issues. He is a high achiever with goal-bound, time-conscious, strategic planning and good interpersonal relations. Has presented a number of papers including a paper on promoting the girl child’s access to education which was presented at the 2008 Bill and Melinda Gates International Youth Conference. Also presented ‘Youth Shadow Report on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria’, a United Nations General Assembly (UNGASS) 2008 Shadow Report with four other people. Skilled in project management, gender issues, child protection, youth development, community engagement, policy development, advocacy and lobbying, capacity, organizational development and mental health crisis management. He is a board member of three NGOs in Nigeria, two of which he is the chairman -Aspilos Foundation and Value Reorientation for Community Enhancement (VARCE). @lagbenjo (tweeter) Fatoki Taiye Timmy (Lagbaja) Facebook Taiye Timmy Fatoki (LinkedIn) Lagbajadon (Instagram). LinkedIn Facebook
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