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FOR several years, the rights of children have continued to suffer all forms of societal abuses. It is sad to know that few years after the promulgation of the Child Rights Law, its implementation has yet to tame some harmful socio-cultural practices, notably labeling of children as witches, particularly in Akwa-Ibom State. FOR several years, the rights of children have continued to suffer all forms of societal abuses. It is sad to know that few years after the promulgation of the Child Rights Law, its implementation has yet to tame some harmful socio-cultural practices, notably labeling of children as witches, particularly in Akwa-Ibom State. This practice, which is well ingrained in religion, often gains momentum from many self-styled pastors who �exorcise� these helpless and unfortunate children and influence their parents to throw them into the streets as outcasts. The cheering news, however, is that a non governmental organisation, Young Humanistas Network and the Child Right And Rehabilitation Network(YHN)/(CRARN) have taken up the fight for children who are stigmatised through witch-hunting. The activity of the organisation was recently brought to the fore in Akwa-Ibom State, when it arrested one Mr. Michael Effiong for stigmatising and abandoning his son, Benjamin Michael Effiong. The boy was found abandoned in the street by a YHN/CRARN investigation officer, Mr Bassey Antia, who promptly rescued him and reported the matter to the police. Ayobami Ojedokun, the project/centre manager of YHN/ CRARN Stigmatised Children Transit Centre in Eket, Akwa-Ibom State, informed Nigerian Tribune that the decision to take action by arresting the parent is necessary to deter other parents from abandoning their children and wards in the street. Ojedokun said the arrest of the accused person was made possible by the Child Rights Bill passed by the Akwa-Ibom State government to protect children in the state against witch stigmatisation and child abandonment by either parents or wards in the state. �There is a need to commend both the state government, who made the bill available to safeguard the future of the children in the state, and the police for their prompt response in arresting the accused person immediately the case was reported to them,� he noted. He observed further that, �This arrest will serve as an example to parents and wards who might be planning on taking the same course of action as they would know that there is a penalty for their actions against children and that the government is serious in its effort to protect the right of children in the state.� From preliminary investigations, it was discovered that Benjamin Effiong had previously being rescued from the street by the organisation after he was thrown out and labelled as a witch, but was later re-united with his parent last year. Mr Antia, the YHN investigation officer, said it was saddening that the same boy who was re-united with his parent just last year was already back in the street. �We have taken the child back to the centre for medical care and case filing purpose. Once we are through with the prosecution of the accused person, the child will be transferred to the government centre at Uyo,� he stated. Bassey added that the child is currently staying at YHN/CRARN Stigmatised Child Transit Centre. In order to curb further menace of parents abandoning their children on the street based on witchcraft accusations, YHN/CRARN has intensified efforts on enlightenment activities across the state. This is done through sponsoring of educative jingles on local broadcasting radio stations in the state and through community advocacy meetings with elders and representatives of the local towns as well as meeting with men and women of God who mostly are culprits at labelling the children as witches.