Cap. 9 Art. 247AIll-treatment or neglect of child under sixteen years

(1) Whosoever, having the responsibility of any child under sixteen years of age, by means of persistent acts of commission or omission ill-treats the child or causes or allows the ill-treatment by similar means of the child shall, unless the fact constitutes a more serious offence under any other provision of this

Code, be liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.

(2) For the purposes of sub-article (1), ill-treatment includes neglecting the child’s need for adequate nutrition, clothing, shelter, and protection from harm, persistently offending the child’s dignity and self-esteem in a serious manner and persistently imposing upon the child age-inappropriate tasks or hard physical labour.

(3) The provisions of article 197(4) shall also apply in the case of an offence under this article, when the offence is committed by any ascendant or tutor.