The Child Development Department of the Women Affairs Secretariat, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is collecting records of children in all orphanages across the territory.
Dr Idris Attah, Director of the department, said during the exercise in Gwagwalada on Monday that the move was aimed at strengthening child protection services.
Truthng reports that the team had so far visited orphanages within Gwagwalada Area Council, including the FCT Unity Children’s Home in Gwako.
Attah added that the exercise would ensure family tracing, reunification of children with their biological families, proper documentation and updating of children’s case files and status.
He also said that the exercise would facilitate foster care and adoption for children, “where reunification is not possible, in the best interest of the child.
*This exercise is being carried out in accordance with the Child Rights Act 2003, the National Guidelines on Alternative Care 2019, and the FCT Child Protection Law 2021.
“The FCT Administration remains committed to ensuring that every child in institutional care is placed in a permanent, safe, and caring family setting as stipulated by law,” he said.
The director emphasised that “protection of children is a collective effort” and urged individuals, groups and corporate organisations to support the ongoing efforts.
