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From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has disclosed less than five per cent of children who suffer sexual violence in Borno State have access to justice.
UNICEF Chief of Borno Field Office, Tushar Rane, in an address during a stakeholders’ meeting in Maiduguri on Access to Justice for Children in Borno State, said lack of access to justice produces threats and vulnerabilities which undermine the future of children in the state.
“Less than five per cent of children which suffer sexual violence access justice,” he said.
He disclosed over 70 per cent of children in detention are “held at pre-trial status” mostly without access to non-custodial services for their reintegration into the communities when released.
The UNICEF chief commended the Borno State Ministry of Justice for convening the meeting to collate inputs from all stakeholders towards ensuring an effective justice system for children.
He said restructuring the Borno State Child Protection and Justice System, is critical for the security and development framework of the justice system in the state.
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Hauwa Mohammed, said the meeting was organised to restructure the Borno Child Protection Law already in existence.
“It is about restructuring. We are only bringing stakeholders on board to ensure our children, especially the vulnerable one, have access to justice,” she disclosed to journalists in an interview at the sidelines of the event.
