The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised concerns about the limited access to justice for child victims of sexual abuse in Nigeria. During a one-day stakeholders’ meeting in Maiduguri, Borno State, Tushar Rane, Chief of UNICEF’s Borno Field Office, highlighted the alarming statistic that less than five percent of children who suffer sexual violence in Nigeria gain access to justice. He also noted that over 70 percent of children in detention lack access to diversion and non-custodial services.
Rane emphasized the vulnerabilities faced by children in Nigeria, where over 50 percent of the population is under 18. Despite the existence of the Borno State Child Protection Law, which provides a comprehensive legal framework, the implementation remains a significant challenge.
The meeting, aimed at promoting access to justice for children, reviewed and validated a draft government/UNICEF work plan on justice for children. UNICEF has committed to supporting the Borno State government in implementing the “Reimagine Justice for Children” agenda.
Borno Commissioner of Justice Hauwa Mohammed expressed the need to strengthen the state’s justice system to better protect children’s rights. She acknowledged that the existing Child Protection Law is insufficient and called for more efforts to ensure easy access to justice for children. Mohammed also emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes of the Almajiri system and other issues contributing to violence against children.
The meeting was attended by several key stakeholders, including Chief Justice of Borno State Justice Kashim Zannah, Commissioner of Women Affairs Zuwaira Gambo, and Borno Police Commissioner CP Yusufu Lawan. They all pledged to ensure the immediate application of juvenile law to safeguard the future generation and reduce the risk of children being associated with crime and conflict.
