Conflict: UNICEF, FG sign agreement to protect children rescued by security operatives

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has signed an agreement with the federal government to ensure children encountered during conflict in Nigeria are protected.

According to a statement on Friday, Cristian Munduate, UNICEF representative in Nigeria, said the handover protocol will discourage the detention of children allegedly associated with armed groups.

Munduate said the agreement will enable proper integration of the children into the society through educational and psychosocial support, adding that it will give them the privilege of acquiring an identity.

The UNICEF representative said such children will be transferred within seven days to the ministry of women affairs and social development for proper support.

“The government of Nigeria, the United Nations system in Nigeria and UNICEF today sign the agreement between the government of the federal republic of Nigeria, United Nations systems in Nigeria and the UNICEF country office in Nigeria on the handover protocol for children encountered in the course of armed conflict in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin Region,” 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 demonstrate 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.”