The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), says it remains committed to supporting government in protecting children.
The Chief of UNICEF Field Office, Kano, Mr Rahama Mohammed-Farah, stated this at the inauguration of Kano State Justice for Children Coordination Forum.
He said the forum was inaugurated because children were either in contact or in conflict with the law, on daily basis.
Mohammed-Farah said the children required access and services that would guarantee their rights and well-being.
He said the Forum would serve as a key and sustainable mechanism to promote coordination between the law enforcement agencies and social welfare/ justice sectors, to ensure access to justice for children.
In his remarks, the State Commissioner of Justice, Mr Musa Abdullahi-Lawan, said the state government would continue to support efforts aimed at protecting children in the state.
He expressed delight that the Police, Judiciary and Correctional Service,were brought together under one platform to address issues regarding children’s rights and protection.
Abdullahi-Lawan said children below 18 years were not supposed to be taken to Magistrate’s Court, but to juvenile courts.
He further said the law provided that under-aged children should not he sentenced to Correctional Facility, but Remand Homes, in case they committed an offence.
The commissioner stressed the need for a thorough investigation on a child’s age by courts, before taking any decision on him.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that members of the Forum were drawn from the Police, Nigeria Immigration Service, Ministries of Justice, Education and Health.
Others were Nigeria Correctional Service, Legal Aid Council, NAPTIP, NOA, Hisbah, NUJ, NBA, CSOs and youth organizations among others. (NAN)
