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Child Domestic Work In Southeast Nigeria

Legal Frameworks and Policy Recommendations

About Research

Introduction

On July 11, 2024, South Saharan Social Development Organisation (SSDO), in partnership with the Enugu State Ministry of Gender Affairs and Social Development, convened a high-level multi-stakeholder meeting at Carlton Swiss Hotel, Enugu, to address the growing challenge of exploitative Child Domestic Work (CDW) in Southeast Nigeria. The meeting brought together key government agencies, law enforcement authorities, civil society organisations, and community actors from Enugu, Anambra, and Ebonyi States—reflecting a unified regional commitment to protecting vulnerable children.

With Southeast Nigeria identified as a hotspot for child labour, presentations by SSDO and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) highlighted the alarming risks faced by child domestic workers and the urgent need for coordinated intervention. Discussions centred on strengthening legal frameworks, enhancing inter-agency collaboration, and improving community awareness to curb the exploitation of children engaged in domestic service.

The meeting underscored the importance of collective action, recommending reforms such as strengthening the Violence Against Persons (VAP) Law, establishing specialized courts, and boosting the capacity of law enforcement and judicial institutions. The engagement reaffirmed stakeholders’ dedication to sustained advocacy and collaborative efforts aimed at ensuring that every child across the region is protected from abuse, exploitation, and harmful labour practices.

Commissioners’ Insights on Child Domestic Work in Southeast Nigeria

Enugu State

The Commissioner of Children, Gender Affairs, and Social Development highlighted that domestic chores are appropriate only when age-appropriate and do not compromise a child’s welfare. She stressed the importance of proper nutrition, leisure, education, and mental health support. Through a poignant case of abuse, she underscored the need for shelters for victims and proposed establishing a Ministry department with clinical psychologists to support trauma recovery and offender rehabilitation.

Anambra State

The Commissioner discussed how poverty drives child exploitation, with middlemen procuring children from other states under false promises. She highlighted the state’s legal framework and policies to protect children, including encouraging whistleblowing, ensuring court cases proceed without bail for offenders, and expelling exploitative individuals. Advocacy and community sensitization were emphasized as key tools in combating child exploitation.

Ebonyi State

Represented by the State Coordinator of the Gender-Based Violence Task Force, the Commissioner detailed ongoing efforts to protect children, including implementing the domesticated Violence Against Persons (VAP) Law, establishing SGBV-focused courts, and raising public awareness through sensitization campaigns. The coordinator highlighted the importance of strict prosecution, judicial activism, and multi-agency collaboration to effectively tackle child exploitation.

Case Studies & Experience Sharing From Law Enforcement Representatives

Enugu State

Police representatives emphasized strong collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, NAPTIP, and health institutions in responding to child exploitation. However, frequent release of suspects weakens case outcomes. Notable cases include girls trafficked from Enugu to Lagos, Ghana, and even Libya, highlighting the urgent need for stronger legal follow-through.

Anambra State

Effective collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs has led to major breakthroughs, including the rescue of 16 trafficked children from a case involving two reverend sisters. A dedicated family court and improved community reporting have strengthened the state’s response to child exploitation.

Ebonyi State

Ebonyi police reported similar successes through multi-agency collaboration. Major cases include the arrest and sentencing of a serial child-trafficker and the conviction of an offender who brutally abused a young girl. These cases reinforce the importance of coordinated action between police, NAPTIP, and women affairs ministries across states.

Enugu State – Ministry of Justice

The representative highlighted successful prosecutions of child abuse cases, including convictions for severe physical abuse and child sexual exploitation. She stressed crime prevention, collective responsibility, and the importance of updating outdated laws such as the domesticated VAP Act. A holistic, multi-agency approach remains crucial.

Anambra State – Ministry of Justice

Anambra has established a dedicated GBV department with special courts, magistrates, and a NAPTIP taskforce. The state keeps a public offender register to deter abuse and applies multiple laws—including the VAP Law and Child Rights Law—to ensure appropriate prosecution.

Ebonyi State – House of Assembly Committee on Gender

The Chairman discussed challenges such as family silence around abuse and cross-state exploitation. She emphasized community sensitization, age-appropriate responsibilities for children, and shared a personal experience of childhood domestic servitude to highlight the urgency of protecting vulnerable children.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

The participants were divided into groups for a breakout session to discuss the issues raised in the presentations. The groups included: Commissioners and Legislators, Police representatives, Civil Society Organisations and other stakeholders

Key Discussion Questions

Participants were asked to deliberate on several key questions, including: · Is child labour within the context of Southeast Nigeria legal? · Who is considered a family member according to Nigerian law? These questions aimed to foster a deeper understanding of the legal and social frameworks surrounding child labour and to identify actionable solutions for addressing CDW in the region. The breakout sessions provided a platform for stakeholders to share insights, experiences, and recommendations, setting the stage for collaborative efforts to combat child labour and protect vulnerable children in Southeast Nigeria.

Recommendations

Sensitization and Advocacy

Stakeholders emphasized the need for intensive awareness campaigns in rural communities to educate parents especially mothers on the dangers of sending children away for work. Community sensitization and advocacy visits are crucial in reducing the supply of underaged children for domestic labour.

 

Women Empowerment

Empowering women through economic opportunities, skills, and resources was identified as a critical strategy in reducing child labour. By strengthening household income, families become less dependent on sending children out to work.

 

Strengthening the VAP Law

There is a strong call to reinforce the Violence Against Persons (VAP) Law to ensure that penalties for child exploitation match the severity of the offenses. Stronger legal provisions will serve as a more effective deterrent.

Inter-State Collaboration

Enhanced cooperation between states in the Southeast is recommended to fast-track case resolution, share intelligence, and harmonize approaches to tackling child exploitation.

 

Establishing Helplines and Building Trust

Creating confidential reporting helplines is critical to encouraging victims and community members to come forward. Trust-building is essential for early reporting and swift intervention.

 

Strengthening Legal Expertise

Establishing or upgrading legal units within ministries and agencies will improve case handling, ensure effective prosecution, and strengthen the overall justice process.

Proposed Actions by the Police Force

01
Child Protection

The police reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding children and enforcing laws that protect their rights.

02
Crime Prevention and Sensitization

Preventive approaches, including sustained sensitization campaigns, aim to reduce the occurrence of child exploitation by raising community awareness.

03
Arrest and Prosecution

Law enforcement agencies will intensify efforts to arrest perpetrators and ensure they are prosecuted in accordance with the law.

04
Referral Pathways

The police emphasized the need for clear referral pathways to hospitals, psychosocial support systems, and mediation services to provide holistic care for victims.

Research Documents

Communique CDW Research Document
CDW Full Document
CSW Executive Summary