Children are often among the most affected by armed conflict, crime and terrorism. They are victims of abduction, trafficking, and sexual and gender-based violence; and are deliberately recruited and exploited by armed and criminal groups. In North-east Nigeria, thousands of children have been abducted, recruited and exploited since Boko Haram began attacks in 2009. State level prosecutors in Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe States have a critical role to play in ensuring accountability for perpetrators of these serious crimes against children.
The United Nations office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) brought together prosecutors from each of the North-eastern States for an interactive three-day workshop on the treatment of child victims and witnesses of crime and violence in contexts of insecurity, including recruitment and exploitation by armed groups.
The workshop took place in Abuja from 23 to 25 October 2024 and saw participants engage in focused discussions on how to best protect, respect and fulfil the rights of child victims and witnesses of crime in contexts of insecurity.
Participants were honored to be joined by the Attorney General of Yobe State, Hon. Barr. Saleh Samanja and the Solicitor General of Adamawa State, Isuwa K. Misali.
Attorney General Barr. Saleh Samanja expressed appreciation for the collaborative workshop and highlighted its value in broadening participants' understanding of child rights.
“This experience has not only enriched our legal acumen but also united us in our collective responsibility to protect children from crime and violence. We’ve exchanged ideas and strategies that I am confident will strengthen our legal processes in North-east Nigeria”.
Honorable Isuwa K. Misali echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of upholding child rights in a region affected by insecurity.
“You’ve given voice to vulnerable children who often lack representation. The knowledge we’ve gained here — from international law, standards and norms to domestic legal practices — will help us better serve and protect those most at risk and initiate necessary improvements to our local laws”.
Falmata Harun of Borno State underlined the value of learning from peers who deal with cases involving child victims and witnesses of crime.
“This experience allowed me to connect with colleagues across the North-east, many of whom I met for the first time. Learning from each other’s experiences has been incredibly rewarding”.
The workshop was delivered by UNODC under the project Protecting Children from Violence in Contexts of Insecurity, North-East Nigeria.
