The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have launched a N120 million strategic partnership to provide pro bono legal representation for vulnerable children across Nigeria, amid concerns over child detention, weak referral systems and limited access to justice.
The NBA President, Afam Osigwe who made the disclosure said the partnership, designed to mobilise lawyers nationwide to represent children who are victims of abuse, exploitation, trafficking and other violations, as well as children who come into conflict with the law.
It marked a shift from broad commitments on child protection to a structured legal response capable of ensuring that vulnerable children have lawyers when they need them.
The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, represented at the event said the Federal Government was strengthening the legal and institutional framework for child justice, noting that the country had already established important foundations through the Child Rights Act 2003, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, state Child Rights Laws, diversion initiatives and restorative justice mechanisms.
UNICEF Representative, Wafaa Saeed, said the partnership was founded on the principle that no child should be denied justice because of lack of legal representation.
The partnership brings together the NBA, UNICEF, Federal Ministry of Justice, judiciary, law-enforcement agencies and other stakeholders, as the initiative is expected to create a more coordinated national framework in which children can obtain legal assistance from the earliest point of contact with the justice system, while strengthening the use of diversion, rehabilitation and child-sensitive procedures.
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(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
