…advocates inclusion in training curriculum
United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has presented the United Nations Child Protection Handover Protocol to key Nigerian Armed Forces training Institutions, advocating for its inclusion in their training curriculums.
The Document, an “Implementation Plan for Handover Protocol for Children Encountered in the Course of Armed Conflict in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin Region,” was presented on Tuesday to the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji, and UNICEF Chief of Child Protection, Nigeria, Ibrahim Sesay.
Delivering a presentation on grave violations against children in armed conflict, highlighted issues concerning the protection of children based upon international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
Sesay also highlighted the partnership with the military in implementing the signed handover protocol between the government of Nigeria, the United Nations system in Nigeria, and UNICEF on September 30, 2022, and its current face regarding strengthening the military’s capacity.
He stressed how better the partnership could protect children, those that come in contact during military operations, especially within the Northeast.
Sesay explained that the handover protocol is divided into seven segments, which included that the children in question are those under the age of 18, which is very critical.
“It is not just for children from Nigeria, but it’s also for the entire Lake Chad Basin because we see the transnational aspects of conflict and then children and people moving across borders and how they also come in contact with security forces,” he said
He added the duration of stay when the children are in administrative custody used to take a long time.
He however applauded the Nigerian military, stating that “Since it’s signing, no child stays more than a week from the time of encounter until the point of release, it is even been shortened, usually it takes about two to three days.
“The military also releases the children and even women with children to a competent civilian authority, which is the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development of the States Government”.
The Specialist emphasized that the duration of stay is very important, adding that having in place an implementation plan for the protocol was also very critical
“I am very pleased to announce that this process was also led by the Nigerian army, wherein the chief of army staff convened a meeting of all stakeholders and the implementation plan was already signed and implementation has really commenced in earnest.
“If you look at children that are unconditionally released, looking at them as victims in the first place, their best interest is being put into action. And now we are looking in terms of strength and the institutional and technical capacity of the Nigerian army,” he said.
Receiving the document on behalf of the NDA, the Commandant, Major General John Ochai said warfare just like the world itself has evolved from traditional warfare to the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
He however assured that the Nigerian Armed Forces will continue to protect children in armed conflicts like they have always done even before the development of the Child Protection Protocol, adding that, the Academy will include the protocol in its training curriculum to ensure all officers trained from the NDA are well equipped with the provisions of the protocol.
At the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Rear Admiral Aniefiok Uko, the Deputy Commandant of the AFCSC, said the college has a package on international and humanitarian law which would be delivered to the students, adding that, the protocol applied directly to the 662 students on course in the college who are commanders in the field.
“Undoubtedly, at this time in our national life in which we have conflicts in almost every geopolitical zone in the country, we are bound to come in contact with children caught up in conflicts and even those engaged in conflicts.
“Basically, what the lecture has brought out is how commanders in the field should handle and treat these children and the process, and protocol for handing them over to the civil authority,” he said.
The Deputy Commandant therefore said the college has accepted the protocol since it is already been endorsed by the government, assuming that, the College would continue the process of teaching its officers and directing them on how to apply this process and procedures.
He also assured of the college’s dynamism, adding that it would include recommendations on children in conflict, how they would be handed over and include it in their simulation exercise.
