A/Ibom judiciary trains judges, magistrates on Child Rights Act
From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
In a move to foster the implementation of the Child Rights Act in Akwa Ibom State and ensure that those guilty of child abuse are held accountable, the Akwa Ibom State Judiciary held a two-day training of judges and magistrates in Uyo.
The two-day training which was in collaboration with the UK Charity, Safe Child Africa, was themed: “Enhancing skills for better child protection”.
Recall that the Nigerian Child Rights Act, 2003, was adapted in Akwa Ibom State in 2008.
The Act was unique in the state in that it criminalised the act of branding children as witches or wizards.
Following this, in 2014, the state government set up the family courts as the key plank for the implementation of the Child Rights Act and to tackle cases of witchcraft accusations in the state.
Speaking on the training, Gary Foxcroft, Chair of Trustees of Safe Child Africa said: “We are humbled and grateful to support this important initiative.
“I would love to commend the Chief Judge Ekaette Obot, for enabling this ground-breaking training to take place and Justice Theresa Obot for the leadership she has shown in helping to make it happen.
“We hope that this event will go some way in helping to ensure that vulnerable and stigmatised children have access to justice and protection”.
Foxcroft was one of the lead coordinators of the coalition of groups which worked hard to ensure that the United Nations passed a hispassedsolution on the Elimination of Harmful Practices related to Accusations of Witchcraft and Ritual Attacks in 2021.
The resolution states that “harmful practices related to witchcraft accusations and ritual attacks globally have resulted in various forms of violence, including killings, mutilation, burning, coercion in the trafficking of persons, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and stigmatization”.
James Ibor, one of the key speakers at the training in Uyo said: “ Regular training such as this is essential if judges and magistrates are to be properly supported with developing the skills and understanding of key issues that are needed to help secure prosecutions of those who are guilty of abusing the rights of children.
“I hope that the key stakeholders will continue with this collaboration so that children who have been raped, trafficked, abandoned or accused of witchcraft can have access to the justice that they so richly deserve”, he said.
