The federal government has signed an agreement with the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to ensure the safety and protection of children found by Nigerian Security Agencies in conflict areas in the country.
According to a statement on Friday, UNICEF representative in Nigeria Cristian Munduate stated that the handover protocol will prohibit the detention of children allegedly associated with armed groups.
Munduate further added that the agreement signed will enable proper integration of such children into the society through educational and psychosocial support, adding that it will give them the privilege of acquiring an identity.
With this agreement, children rescued will be taken to the ministry of women affairs and social development for proper support within seven days.
The statement reads, “The handover protocol is a practical tool to prevent or reduce the detention of children encountered by military and security forces during armed conflict and presents an opportunity to identify and transfer children allegedly associated with armed groups within a period of seven days to the ministry of women affairs and social development.
“The government of Nigeria and UNICEF will continue to work together to ensure that children allegedly associated with armed groups receive appropriate, tailored social and economic reintegration assistance that supports the children’s, families, and communities resilience and social cohesion through child protection, education, psychosocial support, and livelihood initiatives, vocational and skills development, and life skills.
“Under this agreement, the government of Nigeria, the United Nations system in Nigeria, and UNICEF will appoint focal points to oversee the implementation of the protocol and develop a detailed operation plan to guide the implementation of the protocol, outlining roles to ensure its operationalization and share regular compliance reports on the implementation of the protocol with relevant authorities.
“Today marks a historic moment for children who are victims of serious rights violations in north-east Nigeria. This positive undertaking in signing the handover protocol represents a significant milestone and demonstrates the government of Nigeria’s commitment to upholding its obligations to establish and implement the minimum safeguards to prevent the involvement of children in armed conflict.
“The protracted armed conflict in north-east Nigeria has resulted to mass displacement and humanitarian and protection crisis. From 2016 to September 2022, 4,204 children (2,866 boys, 1,338 girls) have been released from administrative custody by the Nigerian military and have received interim care services at the Bulumkutu transit center, including community-based social and economic reintegration assistance.”
The handover protocol is reported to be the first civil human rights instrument to specifically cover the transfer, custody, and care of children in northeast Nigeria and minors from other nationalities who escaped or were rescued from armed groups.