WTC News Blog

A recent poll on Lekeelekee, Africa’s homegrown social media platform, highlights a critical shortfall in public awareness of Violence Against Children (VAC) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Asked “Do you know where to report if you become aware of or experience VAC or GBV?”, 50% answered “Yes,” 40% said “No,” and 10% chose “Tell me more about VAC and GBV.” Half the respondents either lack knowledge of reporting channels or want basic education on the issues themselves. This gap has serious consequences. Unreported cases allow abuse to continue, leave survivors isolated, and hinder prevention and justice. In a digital space connecting millions across Africa and the diaspora, the finding is both a warning and an opportunity. What VAC and GBV Mean VAC includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, neglect, and exploitation of anyone under 18, corporal punishment, child marriage, trafficking, and online harm. GBV covers harmful acts based on gender, primarily affecting women and girls bu...

Introduction Few topics in education generate as much heat as sexuality education. In classrooms from Monrovia to Kampala to Nairobi, the question is rarely whether children will learn something about their bodies and their futures — but what, when, who decides, and under whose authority. Two dominant frameworks have emerged in the global conversation: age-appropriate education (developmental, staged, context-sensitive) and rights-based education (framed around the child's individual entitlements, often anchored in international covenants). The two are not enemies, but in practice they have been treated as rivals — and the collision has produced bans, protests, court battles, and confused curricula. This article draws the line between the two, using Liberia and other countries as case studies, and recommends the approach that best protects the child. Defining the Two Paradigms Age-appropriate education is developmental. It asks: What does a child at this stage of cognit...

As the world observes World Breastfeeding Week this year, Cross River State stands as a shining example of progressive policy and collective action in support of mothers and children. This annual celebration provides an opportunity to reaffirm the critical importance of breastfeeding while recognizing bold steps that enable mothers to provide the best start for their infants. This year’s theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” carries particular significance. It calls on governments, communities, and partners to move beyond awareness-raising and instead track progress, evaluate what has proven effective, and scale up successful approaches that improve breastfeeding outcomes. By focusing on evidence-based interventions that advance nutrition, food security, and poverty reduction, the theme underscores that breastfeeding is not merely a personal choice but a powerful, sustainable public health strategy with lifelong benefits for children...

The recent reshuffle of the Cross River State Executive Council by His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, and the scheduled meeting with the newly constituted EXCO today, represent timely and purposeful leadership. In appointing new commissioners and realigning portfolios, the Governor has demonstrated responsiveness to the demands of governance and a clear intent to inject fresh energy into the machinery of state.   We at the Child Protection Network Nigeria, Cross River State Chapter, commend this decisive action. Effective leadership is not only about political recalibration; it is about creating the conditions for every sector, especially those that safeguard the most vulnerable, to deliver results. However, leadership must be measured by the priority it accords to those who cannot vote or lobby for themselves - our children.   Violence Against Children remains one of the most urgent and under-addressed challenges facing Nigeria and Cross River State. Ac...