The Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) has commend the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for what it described as its bold statement on the protection of the rights of the Nigerian child by halting a scheduled marriage ceremony between a 40-year-male adult and a 13-year-old Primary 5 pupil at Abuja on the ground that it amounted to a violation of the pupil’s rights under the Child Rights Act, 2003.

“We salute the officers of the NHRC for their gallantry,” CLO President, Uche Wisdom Durueke, said in a statement issued over the weekend in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

“For the CLO, the halting of the marriage ceremony on 24th July, 2015 by the NHRC is a clear demonstration by the Commission of its commitment to the realisation of the rights of the Nigerian child. This also signals a new and practical approach to addressing the menace of infant marriage in the country,” he added.

Durueke noted that CLO has always maintained that the protection and promotion of the rights of the Nigerian child demands practical and proactive approaches.

“Also, that there is need to get the public more involved. It is believed that getting the public more involved will strengthen the work of the NHRC and the civil society movement. The public should be willing to always blow the whistle whenever and wherever the rights of a Nigerian child is threatened or is being violated,” he further said.

CLO called on the NHRC to ensure that the matter is thoroughly investigated by the Nigerian Police Force, and if the right of the pupil was violated that the penal provisions of the Child’s Rights Act are activated against all involved.

•Photo shows CLO President Durueke.

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