E. K. OMORUYI

This study critically examines the legal framework established for the protection of children’s rights against child labour within the context of human rights law. Despite comprehensive international and national instruments addressing child labour, the issue persists worldwide, undermining children’s development and violating their fundamental rights. This study analyses key international legal instruments, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions No. 138 and 182, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). These instruments collectively prohibit exploitative child labour and mandate standards for children’s employment, protection from hazardous work, and access to education. At the national level, the study highlights Nigeria’s legal regime, focusing on the Constitution, the Child Rights Act (CRA) 2003, and the Labour Act. The Constitution enshrines the right to dignity and prohibits forced labour, forming the supreme legal basis for child protection. The Child Rights Act integrates international standards by prohibiting exploitative and hazardous labour for children under 18 and prescribing penalties for violations. The Labour Act complements this framework by setting minimum age requirements and regulating the conditions under which children may be employed, emphasizing protection from harmful work and the preservation of education. The paper examines persistent challenges to effective enforcement, including socio-economic pressures, cultural acceptance of child labour, and limited institutional capacity. Legal ambiguities and weak enforcement mechanisms undermine the full implementation of these protective laws. The study argues that a robust legal framework is insufficient without strengthened enforcement, public awareness, and harmonized legal interpretations. Conclusively, the realization of children’s rights against child labour requires integrated approaches encompassing stringent enforcement of constitutional guarantees, coordinated application of the Labour Act and Child Rights Act, and socio-economic interventions aimed at addressing the root causes of child labour.

This study critically examines the legal framework established for the protection of children’s rights against child labour within the context of human rights law. Despite comprehensive international and national instruments addressing child labour, the issue persists worldwide, undermining children’s development and violating their fundamental rights. This study analyses key international legal instruments, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions No. 138 and 182, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). These instruments collectively prohibit exploitative child labour and mandate standards for children’s employment, protection from hazardous work, and access to education. At the national level, the study highlights Nigeria’s legal regime, focusing on the Constitution, the Child Rights Act (CRA) 2003, and the Labour Act. The Constitution enshrines the right to dignity and prohibits forced labour, forming the supreme legal basis for child protection. The Child Rights Act integrates international standards by prohibiting exploitative and hazardous labour for children under 18 and prescribing penalties for violations. The Labour Act complements this framework by setting minimum age requirements and regulating the conditions under which children may be employed, emphasizing protection from harmful work and the preservation of education. The paper examines persistent challenges to effective enforcement, including socio-economic pressures, cultural acceptance of child labour, and limited institutional capacity. Legal ambiguities and weak enforcement mechanisms undermine the full implementation of these protective laws. The study argues that a robust legal framework is insufficient without strengthened enforcement, public awareness, and harmonized legal interpretations. Conclusively, the realization of children’s rights against child labour requires integrated approaches encompassing stringent enforcement of constitutional guarantees, coordinated application of the Labour Act and Child Rights Act, and socio-economic interventions aimed at addressing the root causes of child labour.

This research critically examines Nigeria's legal and institutional responses to gender-based violence against women and femicide, evaluating the effectiveness of criminal law and human rights enforcement mechanisms. Despite progressive legislation including the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 and ratification of international instruments like CEDAW and the Maputo Protocol, systemic institutional failure persists across all levels of Nigeria's justice system. The research identifies interconnected challenges undermining enforcement: chronic resource constraints, deeply embedded patriarchal attitudes among criminal justice actors, pervasive corruption, victim withdrawal under social pressure, geographic inconsistencies in law implementation, inadequate data systems, and insufficient survivor support infrastructure. While civil society organizations like Mirabel Centre, WARIF, and STER have provided essential services to thousands of survivors, these successes remain isolated rather than systematic. The findings reveal a profound gap between law and reality that constitutes a moral failure, yet demonstrate that effective responses are achievable when political will, adequate resources, and coordinated action align. This research concludes that Nigerian women have waited long enough for justice, and that Nigeria possesses the capacity to do better if it makes the necessary political choices and resource commitments. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated, "Violence against women is not inevitable"—it is a choice Nigeria can make differently.