The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) in Kaduna says it has successfully mediated a child welfare and family reunification case involving a 13-year-old girl simply identified as Divine.

The state director of the commission, Maikudi Bawa, said the intervention followed years of separation between the child and her biological mother and was guided by the principle of protecting the child’s best interests.

Presenting the report of the mediation process, he explained that the child’s mother became pregnant while she and the father were teenagers and classmates.

According to the report, following the birth of the child, both families initially agreed to temporary care arrangements due to the mother’s age at the time.

The commission said the child was later taken to the village by the paternal grandmother and placed under the care of the child’s great-grandmother without her mother’s knowledge or the maternal family.

Mr Bawa said the child remained separated from her biological mother for more than 12 years and was moved among relatives as family circumstances changed.

He disclosed that the mother and daughter eventually reunited at the father’s wedding ceremony, paving the way for reconciliation.

The report further revealed that despite being 13 years old, the child was currently in primary four and required urgent educational support.

The report says both biological parents and grandparents reside in Kaduna State and that the child has limited opportunity to build a natural relationship with her mother due to prolonged separation.

According to the report, discussions with the child suggest she has experienced pressure regarding her current living arrangement.

The IHRC said the matter should not be viewed as a conflict among adults but as a child welfare issue requiring a stable family environment, emotional support and educational development.

Mr Bawa said following consultations with all parties, the commission resolved that the reunification process should be gradual and child-centred.

It recommended that after completing her third-term examination, the child should spend one month of the school holiday with her mother in Kaduna to begin rebuilding their relationship.

The commission also urged the father to remain actively involved in the child’s upbringing and contribute to her education and welfare.

It advised that the child should maintain healthy relationships with both maternal and paternal families and cautioned family members against making negative comments about either parent in the child’s presence.

The commission added that the reunification arrangement would be reviewed after a period of observation and adjustment, while unresolved disputes could be referred to the appropriate family court.

The IHRC reaffirmed its commitment to promoting the rights, dignity and welfare of children, stressing that family justice should focus on securing the child’s future and well-being. 

(NAN)