EVENTS

   CRACO EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

Community outreach/campaign on safeguarding the girl child from sexual abuse. CRACO from time to time carry out outreach programs to markets, motor parks, and other public places to sensitise and enlighten members of the public on children’s rights, especially right to freedom from sexual abuse.

Executive Director of CRACO was conferred with United Nations Distinguished Leadership Award for outstanding contribution to the Growth of the children in Nigeria and Globally, in commemoration of 2020 Universal Children’s Day, on 20th November, 2020.

END VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN CAMPAIGN

Speak up, speak out, stand strong, together we can save the children

The high rate of violence against children in Nigeria prompted CRACO to initiate a campaign in 2018/2019 to end violence against children in Nigeria, with the theme “NO to all Forms of Violence Against Children”. Everyday, at least a child dies somewhere in Nigeria due to violence. On daily basis calls and e-mails are sent to CRACO to save a child somewhere who is passing through violence. The nature of these violence includes physical, sexual and emotional violence. The cases of rape and defilement of children is becoming alarming. We have gotten report of a 3-months old child being defiled. It has become that bad. Most worrisome is that most of these acts are being perpetrated mostly by people we least expect – people the children placed so much trust on. CRACO did a Report on violence against children between the period of 2015-2017-http://www.cracong.org/a-report-on-violence-against-children-in-nigeria/. The result is alarming. We are presently documenting cases of violence against children, and we shall soon publish a chronicle of cases of violence against children in Nigeria.

However, you can visit CRACO blog @ www.cracong.org/blog-overview;  CRACO facebook page @Cracong; or follow us on Instagram @ craconig; Twitter @ cracong1; to always read our daily reports on cases of violence against children in Nigeria. You can also watch our videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkcZti4MU1Ppjj72-H4l1Aw

BOOK PUBLICATION 

CRACO has published a book for children titled: “My Rights, My Future” which will help better equip children to know their rights and what to do when they find themselves in abusive situation.

Picture showing the unveiling of CRACO’S book on children’s rights titled: “My Right, My Future” The book was unveiled by the Executive Secretary Lagos state Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, – Titilola Vivour Adeniyi.

END VIOLENCE SCHOOLS OUTREACH PROGRAM IN PICTURES

THE INNERCITY MISSION NURSERY & PRIMARY SCHOOL, LAGOS

END VIOLENCE CAMPAIGN AT DELIGHT INT’L SCHOOL, OLODI APAPA, LAGOS

CRACO TAKES END VIOLENCE CAMPAIGN TO CAYLEY COLLEGE, IKEJA, LAGOS

 

END VIOLENCE CAMPAIGN AT ST. JOSEPH SCHOOLS, IDIMANGORO, AGEGE, LAGOS

 “END VIOLENCE CAMPAIGN” AT CARO FAVOURED COLLEGE,  AWODI ORA, APAPA, LAGOS, NIGERIA

PROJECT ON BABY FACTORY 

TACKLING THE MENACE OF ‘BABY FACTORIES’ IN LAGOS STATE – THE ONLINE DIMENSION

The term Baby Factories, also known as Baby Farms or Baby Harvesting, is a relatively new form of human trafficking in Nigeria. The factories are secret places where young ladies are lured, encouraged or forced to get pregnant and to deliver their babies for sale with or without their consent.  While some of these ladies, especially teenage girls, voluntarily move into these centres to deliver “unwanted” babies for money, others are abducted or kidnapped and able-bodied men are brought to impregnate them willingly or forcefully. When they deliver these babies, the babies are taken away from them and sold to people on the waiting list of the purveyors. Most of these children end up being sold to ritualists. From 2006 when the United Nations’ Report on Nigeria first alerted the world to the presence of Baby Factories in the country, the business has continued to grow, especially in the  Southern part of the country.  According to the United Nations, at least 10 children are illegally sold every day in Nigeria.  The UNESCO Report of 2011 states that human trafficking is the  third most common crime in Nigeria, after financial fraud and drug trafficking. Like most other organized crimes, Baby Factories operate as a powerful chain involving prominent people, with very strong connections in high places that give backing to this illegal trade. There are several reasons Baby Factories thrive in Nigeria.  First, they operate under the guise of orphanage homes, prayer homes, social welfare homes, maternity homes and clinics, thereby luring unsuspecting pregnant young ladies with different kinds of baits.  Secondly, pregnant teenagers find these homes as safe havens for secretly dropping their “unwanted” babies without public knowledge, and continue with their normal life.  The extremely poor and vulnerable ladies see these homes as a veritable opportunity for redressing their economic misfortune by selling their babies for money.  To the desperate childless couples, Baby Factories offer a window of opportunity for addressing the reproach the society attaches to childlessness.  The fear of stigmatization, poverty, ignorance, societal pressure, lack of ethical behaviour on the part of medical professionals, and greed are the key drivers of Baby Factories in Nigeria.  Its profitability has embolden current actors and even encourage new entrants into the booming trade, hence, its prevalence in recent time. You will find below a documentary on baby factory in Nigeria, CRACO did with FRANCE 24, an international TV station based in Paris.

OTHER ACTIVITIES OF CRACO

  • CHILD RIGHTS SUMMIT

Annually, CRACO organizes Child Rights sensitization programme tagged “Child Rights Summit” aimed at addressing specific child rights issues. The programme which witnesses a large turn out of students and teachers from various secondary schools in Nigeria holds every 27th of May annually. The summit is held to mark the world’s children’s day. Featuring in the summit include debates and quiz competitions, drama, talent hunt, and lectures. Gifts, Certificates and Awards are given to best individual students, and best schools.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH/COMMUNITY SERVICE

From time to time, as the need arises, and the fund available, Craco organizes outreach programme termed “Community Outreach” geared at reaching out to the less privileged women and children in the society, including street children, with the aim of improving their livelihood. Clothes, food stuff, and other essential items donated by members and non members alike are distributed to this category of people. Craco also visits disabled children’s homes and Orphanages for the same purpose.

‘Train up a child in the way he should go and when he grows up, he will not depart from it’. To this end, we train children and young people to give back to the community which has given them much through our community service activities. The pictures below shows students from Chrisland High School participating in CRACO Community service activity, after which each student receives Attestation Letter and a copy of CRACO’s book titled “In Pursuit of True Success” which will help them appreciate the importance and need for volunteerism and selfless service to humanity.

   

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CHARITY

In its resolution A/RES/67/105, the United Nations General Assembly designated the 5th of September, the anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa, as International Day of Charity. The first international Day of Charity was commemorated at the UN headquarters in 2013. In 2014, CRACO commemorated the first ever International Day of Charity in Nigeria. The event witnessed the launch of a book (published by CRACO) to promote charitable works. At the event, Awards were also given to organisations, including Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, as well as individuals doing charitable works in the manner of Mother Teresa. Public Lecture was delivered by Pastor Tunde Bakare (Head Pastor of Latter Rain Assembly) on the topic: “How each of us can change the world“. The Nigerian Police Band was present at the event to entertain the audience. It has become part of the program of CRACO to mark the International Day of Charity every 5th day of September, to promote and encourage works of charity.

Sisters of Mother Teresa (Missionaries of Charity) after receiving a humanitarian Award in Lagos; and Children entertaining the audience

CRACO by the grace of God will keep promoting charitable works in Nigeria for the welfare of children, through the annual commemoration of International Day of Charity.

  • CHILD RIGHTS EXCURSION

From time to time, CRACO receives pupils from schools who visit the organisation on excursion to learn about child rights.

CRACO and France 24 Documentary on Babies factory in Nigeria.

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