By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Nigerian Government has joined global efforts to raise awareness to end recruitment of children in Armed Conflicts.
The 12th February marked the annual observance of ‘Red Hand Day’, a day dedicated to raising awareness and strengthening efforts to end the recruitment and use of children in armed conflicts worldwide.
UNICEF Representative in Nigeria. Cristian Munduate, said, “Red Hand Day is an important reminder of the ongoing challenge to end the recruitment and use of children in armed conflicts.”
We applaud the efforts of the Government of Nigeria for the signing of the Handover Protocol for children encountered in the course of armed conflict in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin Region, Munduate said.
The UNICEF Executive noted that the day is also another opportunity for the Federal Government of Nigeria to endorse The Paris commitments to protect children from unlawful recruitment or use by armed forces or armed groups and the Paris principles and guidelines on children associated with armed forces or armed groups.
The Nigerian Government in collaboration with the international community, has made considerable progress in improving legal and policy frameworks to protect children associated with armed actors.
Nigeria has had it’s share of reports of children being recruited and used by armed groups during conflicts, with devastating consequences on their physical and psychological well-being.
Despite the international community’s efforts to eradicate this issue, children and particularly girls continue to be exploited by armed actors, with many remaining unidentified and unreported.
UNICEF in partnership with other relevant stakeholders said it will continue to support the efforts of the Government to invest in the prevention of child recruitment and use, facilitate and scale-up the reintegration of children, especially girls and including women that exit armed groups in the North-East.
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