BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto –
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has submitted that every child is at risk of abuse, hence, the need for concerted efforts by all to guarantee their protection.
The Sokoto UNICEF Field Office, Child Protection Specialist, Mr Pius Uwamanua, stated this on Tuesday in Sokoto at the ongoing 2-day workshop organized for security personnel and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).
NATIONAL ACCORD reports that the workshop was organized by the Sokoto Zonal Command of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking (NAPTIP) in collaboration with UNICEF under the Access to Justice for Vulnerable Children and Children On The Move Project, Sokoto State.
Mr. Uwamanua, while speaking on his presentation titled: “Child Protection and Role of Security Agencies On Child Protection”, noted that children experience various abuses such as emotional, sexual, neglect, exploitation, physical and otherwise.
“”Looking at the current global realities, most children are now at risk, as they are likely to be abused, violated, exploited, neglected and face things that can harm their development at any time”.
He appealed to security agencies to always adhere to ethical standards when handling cases of Trafficking In Persons (TIPs) and Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV).
On his part, Sokoto Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Abubakar Abdullahi Tabra while urging participants to be open and share ideas for the overall interest of humanity, further admonished officers to approach victims of TIP with sensitivity.
Mr. Tabra, who presented paper on the “Peace Model of Interviewing Trafficked Children and Survivors of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV)”, said those trafficked are not offenders, but traumatized victims that should enjoy the “Do No Harm” principle
Giving objectives of the workshop, Mr Nura from NAPRIP Sokoto Zonal Command, said it will build the capacity of officers in investigation, prosecution, identification of victims of TIP, as well as help them address challenges faced during investigation process.
”The 2 day workshop will help build capacities of participants on Modern Techniques of Investigation of cases of TIPs, SGBV, process of prosecution and experience sharing of cases handled by security personnel in Illela and Sokoto-South Local Government Areas, Sokoto State'”.
Mr. Nura, further, listed expected outcomes of the training to include adequately equipping participants with the needed knowledge to deliver optimally on their jobs in the areas of TIPs amongst other assigned task.
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