The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) with support from the European Union (EU) and Sokoto State Ministry of Justice has organized a workshop on the Nigerian Police Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for children who come in contact with the Law.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Muhammad Ali Hayattu, in his address said the development of the SOPs demonstrate the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure child friendly policing in the country.
He said that SOPs would offer strategic framework and clear guidelines on procedures for providing services for children and also facilitate timely access to justice.
The police commissioner added that the workshop would build capacity of police officers to enable them to appreciate issues involving children.
Hayattu further added that the workshop would also go a long way in enlightening security agencies, human rights activists, civil society organisations, Human Right Commission and the judiciary on the issues involving children in a professional manner.
Speaking in her remarks, UNICEF child protection specialist, Nkiru Maduechesi added that, best results for child protection is attained with specialisation.
She explained that the essence of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) is to ensure a separate system of justice that upholds the rights of children, preserves their welfare and dignity, protect them from harm, abuses and support their continued development, rehabilitation and reintegration.
She added that the acceptable principles of the SOP is for the best interest of the child.
Nkiru further highlighted some of those interest to include, safety, heath, development, protection, right to life, right of opinion , dignity and self worth, prevention of offence, minimizing delay, protection of privacy, proportionality of response, use of alternative measures as well as rehabilitation and reintegration rather than retribution and punishment.
Earlier, Maryam Darwesh Sai’d, Chief UNICEF Sokoto Field Office in an interview stated that the aim of the workshop is to enable the Nigeria police have Child Friendly Procedures.
According to her is to help guide participants on Standard Operating Procedure in handling cases involving children who are victims, survivors or witnesses of crime as well as that of children in conflict .
Also speaking the Sokoto State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Aishatu Ahmad Kaoje appealed to investigators to be deligent and humane in carrying out their duties to the best interest of the victims .
The Assistant Director with the Ministry of Justice and Sokoto State Focal Person, Justice Partnership, Barrister Habiba Ahmed Usman disclosed that 85 participants including women were drawn from Illela, Binji, Tangaza, Sokoto North, Sokoto South, Bodinga and Denge Shuni local government areas respectively for the training.
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