Action
The objectives of the protection and participation programme are to:
To realise the rights of children in Nigeria, UNICEF is assisting with massive advocacy, consultative meetings and awareness creation, to governors, legislators, policy makers, civil society organisations and gate keepers. Through this strategy, UNICEF has been instrumental in the development and passing of the Child Rights Act (CRA) and child rights laws in 16 states as well as the Trafficking in Persons Prohibition and Administration Act. The Child Rights Act represents a decisive step for the protection of children in Nigeria as it domesticates the obligations of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and consolidates all laws relating to children into one single legislation. The Act specifies the rights and responsibilities of children and the duties and obligations of government, parents and other authorities, organisations and bodies. Because in the Constitution, issues of child rights are under States’ responsibility and jurisdiction, the States are expected to formally adopt and adapt the Child Rights Act for domestication as State laws. The Act only becomes fully operational when it is adopted by a State. To date, the Child Rights Act has been promulgated into Law in 16 States: Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Eboniyi, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Jigawa, Kwara, Lagos, Nassarawa, Ogun, Ondo, Plateau, Rivers and Taraba. Today UNICEF continues its efforts, in conjunction with the Federal and State Ministry of Women Affairs, to advocate for the passage of the Child Rights Act by all States. Passed in July 2003, the Trafficking in Persons Prohibition and Administration Act prohibits all forms of trafficking in persons and especially protects children and women against criminal networks. Consequently, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other Related matters (NAPTIP) was established to fight human trafficking through investigation of cases, prosecution of criminals, rescue and rehabilitation of victims. UNICEF has supported the institutional capacity building of the Agency and helped in establishing an anti-trafficking network in 22 endemic States and in the development of the National Policy on Protection and Assistance to Victims of Human Trafficking. UNICEF also assists the Agency’s shelters for rescued children with psycho-social rehabilitation skills to enable them give adequate support to these children. In addition, UNICEF is working closely with civil society organisations, the Nigeria Police and Nigeria Immigration Services to reinforce coordination of anti trafficking responses, cross border trafficking issues, and facilitate implementation of bilateral agreements on combating child trafficking. Both the police and the immigration authorities now have anti-child trafficking units. The promulgation of the Act, the efforts of the National agency, the creation of an office of Special Adviser to the President on human trafficking, the efforts of the coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations and Civil Society Networks on human trafficking have all led to an increased level of awareness, provision of recovery services to victims and survivors of child trafficking and rescue and reintegration interventions. In addition, public awareness has been created through an appropriate communication strategy, with particular attention to the media. Sensitisation work has led to investigative reporting, editorials, posters, radio dramas and jingles on trafficking. A three-month campaign on child trafficking and birth registration was aired on the national network by the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria in 2007. UNICEF also encourages international agreements between countries in order to tackle trans-border issues. UNICEF thus assisted in the development of a cooperation agreement, signed in 2005, between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Benin to fight child trafficking. In 2006, a regional conference was jointly organised by ECOWAS and ECCAS in Abuja, with the active participation of NAPTIP and the support of UNICEF, to share country experiences and to develop a common platform of action against human trafficking in West and Central Africa. The organisation also supports awareness and sensitisation campaigns in schools in order to improve children’s knowledge on trafficking and equip them with adequate information. As part of the protective environment that UNICEF promotes, emphasis is also put on birth registration as a means of giving a child an identity and nationality. In 2007, a major campaign was launched with the Government to raise public awareness on the importance of birth registration. UNICEF has strengthened institutional capacity of the National Population Commission to collate, analyse, process and generate birth registration data consistently at the State and National level. Another of UNICEF’s concern is juvenile justice and children in conflict with the law. In Nigeria, many children lack the means to secure legal representation or to pay bail and often languish in detention centres for extended periods. Since 2003, UNICEF has helped secure improved treatment and legal aid for juveniles in conflict with the law. As part of the project partnership that comprises the Nigerian Bar Association, the National Human Rights Commission and local NGOs, UNICEF helped train magistrates, policy makers, prison officers, lawyers and social workers on juvenile justice administration, and supports the provision of free legal services for children and young people. With regard to child participation, major progress has been made. The Federal Government inaugurated the Nigeria Children’s Parliament (NCP) in 2003 in accordance with provisions of the Child Rights Act. The Parliament has been very active in advocating with policy makers and parliamentarians at National and State levels for the realisation of all children’s rights. For instance, the Parliament advocated for the passage of the Child Rights Act, intervened to help solve the polio controversy in 2004, participated at a live session of the National Assembly; issued a call to action on children and AIDS and on child trafficking; and made recommendations for the new administration two day before the inauguration of President Yar’Adua in 2007. Many of the children in the Parliament have had media training with UNICEF and regularly participate in and produce media programmes. In general, participation of children in the media has been supported by UNICEF, including training of children and of radio and television producers. The International Children's Day of Broadcasting (ICDB) is widely observed by broadcast organisations. Children participate in television and radio programmes as presenters, anchor persons and interviewers. UNICEF also facilitated an interview of the President of Nigeria by members of the Children’s Parliament at this occasion. Children living on the streets in Lagos were trained to produce and broadcast 13 episodes of a radio programme chronicling their lives.
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