By Ankeli Emmanuel (In Sokoto State)
Sokoto State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Suleiman Usman (SAN), on Tuesday, inaugurated Justice For Children Coordination Forum in an event held at the Shukura hotels.
The Attorney General who said justice is the greatest legacy that can guarantee a sane society added that the Sokoto State Ministry of Justice is happy to receive participants to the inception meeting for access to justice projects in the State.
Giving insights into the meeting, the Attorney General said, it's being funded by the European Union through the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to give access to justice for both vulnerable and children on the move.
Talking about the role of the newly inaugurated forum, the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Suleiman Usman (SAN), said it will help facilitate a system for the exchange of information between sectors in order to optimize the delivery of response services for children in contact with the justice system as well as provide an advisory think-tank on strategies and advocacy to strengthen the law enforcement towards being preventive, responsive and child-friendly.
The specific objectives of this forum, according to the AG, shall include, "To ensure that the rights of children are respected at every stage of juvenile, justice administration, including investigation, prosecution, judicial hearing, as well as rehabilitative and custodial stages.
"The forum will also articulate, develop and share models of intervention that promotes efficiency and effectiveness in the administration of justice and provision of child-friendly services to children".
On his part, Mr. Pius Uwananua, the UNICEF Child Protection Specialist for Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara States, said the program was actually very unique, hence it is the inception programme for children's access to justice, especially those on the streets.
"It is actually not only an eye-opener but also a way forward to see how we can provide justice for these children as at when due.
"It is, therefore, a success for us when it comes to child protection. This is because for us, protection is one of the key things for survivors and this project is actually looking at how to provide this protection and in good condition as well".
Members of the Sokoto State Justice for Children Coordination Forum were drawn from Ministries of Women and Children Affairs, Education and Health. Others are from NAPTIP, NPC, NCS, the Police, NSCDC, NIS, Legal Aid Council, National Human Rights, FIDA, SGBR Team, as well as the media and Chief Registrar of High Courts and that of Sharia Court of Appeal. NNL.
