Abuja: The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to child protection, aligning with global best practices. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, gave the assurance at the launch of the Prosecution Guidelines for Handling Cases Involving Children, 2024, and the Legal Aid Guidelines for Children in Conflict and Contact with the Law and Child Victims, 2024.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, these guidelines represent a significant stride in institutionalising a justice system that recognises the distinct circumstances, vulnerabilities, and needs of children. The guidelines are applicable in situations where children are either in conflict with the law, in contact with the law, or as victims of abuse, exploitation, or other circumstances. The commitment from the government includes strengthening legal frameworks, promoting non-custodial measures for children in conflict with the law, and enhancing systems for child protection, focusing on preventing, detecting, and responding to all forms of violence against children.
Fagbemi noted that while many states have adopted the Child's Rights Law, significant implementation gaps remain, especially in prosecution and access to legal representation for children. The new guidelines aim to directly address these challenges and bridge the gaps in justice administration in the best interest of the child. The guidelines will provide ethical, practical, and child-sensitive standards for prosecutors, promoting discretion, dignity, and the use of non-custodial measures such as diversion, restorative justice, and community-based interventions. Prosecutors are encouraged to address the root causes of offending behaviours and prioritise rehabilitation over retribution, in line with both national and international standards.
Mrs Leticia Ayoola-Daniels, the Director of Administration of the Criminal Justice Reform Department of the ministry, stated that the guidelines embody a renewed collective commitment to protecting children's rights. They aim to ensure procedural fairness and promote rehabilitative and restorative justice approaches for minors in contact with the law. The guidelines are practical tools that will enable justice actors to respond consistently, lawfully, and compassionately when working with children, reflecting core child justice principles such as the best interest of the child, proportionality, and a preference for diversion and non-custodial measures.
Ibrahim Sesay, UNICEF's Chief Child Protection, commended the Federal Government for integrating a dedicated justice for children thematic area within the National Justice Policy. This reflects a strategic approach to embedding child rights at the heart of Nigeria's legal reform agenda. The successful domestication of the Child Rights Act across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory signals a national commitment to uphold the rights and dignity of every Nigerian child. He urged policymakers and high-level stakeholders to champion the full and immediate implementation of these pivotal Legal Aid and Prosecution Guidelines.
Mr Aliyu Abubakar, Director-General of the Legal Aid Council, highlighted that Nigerian children belong to vulnerable groups requiring special protection. He added that the guidelines should receive maximum sensitisation so that Nigerians, particularly children, can fully benefit from them.