Senate Amends Child’s Right Act, Passes Older Persons Rights, Privileges Bill

Senate on Tuesday approved an amendment to the Child’s Right Act
of 2003 making anyone convicted of sexual offence unfit to work
with children.

The upper chamber also passed the Older Persons (Rights and
Privileges) Bill 2020.

This followed the presentation of reports on the Bills by the
Chairman Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Senator Betty Apiafi,
during plenary.

The lawmaker noted that the amendment to the Child’s Right Act
would further give protection to the Nigerian child against any
form of sexual violence and abuse suffered in the hands of
caregivers and others.

The Bill provides that “any person who has been convicted of
murder, attempted rape, indecent assault or sexual offences with
the intent to do grievous bodily harm with regard to a child during
the five years preceding the commencement of this amendment is
deemed to have been found unsuitable to work with children.”

In a similar vein, the Bill on Older Persons (Right and
Privileges) is aimed at addressing the social and economic
challenges triggered by aging and the need for government to
formulate policies that would incorporate the elderly and cater for
their well-being.

The bill provides for a fine of N2 million or N200, 000 from
organisations or individuals respectively found to have
discriminated against older persons.

According to the Bill, “without prejudice to this Bill, any
prosecution, conviction or otherwise of any person for any offence
under this Bill, does not preclude the right of the victim to
maintain a civil action against any such person committing the
offence or causing injury.”

It added that “older persons have the right to social
protection, including income security without discrimination on the
basis of age, gender or health status.”

Other benefits sought in the Bill include: “Enjoyment of the
highest attainable standards of physical and mental health and long
term care without discrimination on the basis of age, including
public health, preventive medicine, palliative care and
rehabilitation free of cost under the aegis of the NHIS.

“Government shall ensure that older persons enjoy the right to
adequate standard of living, including the right to food, water,
clothing and housing and to improve their living conditions without
discrimination on the basis of age.

“Government shall ensure the provision of seats in walkways,
other public facilities specifically designed for the comfort of
older persons.”

Senate on Tuesday approved an amendment to the Child’s Right Act
of 2003 making anyone convicted of sexual offence unfit to work
with children.

The upper chamber also passed the Older Persons (Rights and
Privileges) Bill 2020.

This followed the presentation of reports on the Bills by the
Chairman Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Senator Betty Apiafi,
during plenary.

The lawmaker noted that the amendment to the Child’s Right Act
would further give protection to the Nigerian child against any
form of sexual violence and abuse suffered in the hands of
caregivers and others.

The Bill provides that “any person who has been convicted of
murder, attempted rape, indecent assault or sexual offences with
the intent to do grievous bodily harm with regard to a child during
the five years preceding the commencement of this amendment is
deemed to have been found unsuitable to work with children.”

In a similar vein, the Bill on Older Persons (Right and
Privileges) is aimed at addressing the social and economic
challenges triggered by aging and the need for government to
formulate policies that would incorporate the elderly and cater for
their well-being.

The bill provides for a fine of N2 million or N200, 000 from
organisations or individuals respectively found to have
discriminated against older persons.

According to the Bill, “without prejudice to this Bill, any
prosecution, conviction or otherwise of any person for any offence
under this Bill, does not preclude the right of the victim to
maintain a civil action against any such person committing the
offence or causing injury.”

It added that “older persons have the right to social
protection, including income security without discrimination on the
basis of age, gender or health status.”

Other benefits sought in the Bill include: “Enjoyment of the
highest attainable standards of physical and mental health and long
term care without discrimination on the basis of age, including
public health, preventive medicine, palliative care and
rehabilitation free of cost under the aegis of the NHIS.

“Government shall ensure that older persons enjoy the right to
adequate standard of living, including the right to food, water,
clothing and housing and to improve their living conditions without
discrimination on the basis of age.

“Government shall ensure the provision of seats in walkways,
other public facilities specifically designed for the comfort of
older persons.”