Ex-UN Rapporteur Condemns Charges Against Minors in #EndBadGovernance Protests
Newsroom
- Ex-UN Rapporteur Professor Joy Ngozi Ezeilo condemns the Nigerian government for charging minors in the #EndBadGovernance protests, labelling the actions as “unacceptable” and a violation of children’s rights.
- Ezeilo stresses the need for the justice system to prioritise the dignity and reintegration of children rather than punitive measures, advocating for specialised juvenile courts and appropriate handling of cases involving minors.
- She calls for accountability and ethical judgement from prosecutors, insisting that the practice of prosecuting malnourished minors for serious charges like mutiny and treason must cease, as it tarnishes Nigeria’s image.
Ex-UN Rapporteur Condemns Charges Against Minors in #EndBadGovernance Protests
Professor Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, a former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Trafficking, has denounced the Nigerian government’s decision to file charges against minors involved in the recent #EndBadGovernance protests, calling the move “unacceptable.”
Ezeilo, who previously served as the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Nigeria, expressed her concern over the treatment of malnourished protesters, most of whom are minors, emphasising that children’s rights are inherently human rights that must be respected and upheld in Nigeria.
Her condemnation comes in light of widespread public outcry regarding the arraignment of these young protesters.
Ezeilo stressed that the administration of justice should prioritise the dignity and worth of children, taking into account their age and aiming for their reintegration into society rather than punitive measures.
In a post shared on her X account, she criticised the current situation as a severe violation of both national and international legal frameworks pertaining to children’s rights.
She stated, “Children who are in conflict with the law should be redirected away from the formal judicial process. Recent events have significantly undermined our justice system.”
Ezeilo outlined key principles that should guide the treatment of minors in the justice system, including the need to separate children from adults in detention, protect their privacy, and use detention only as a last resort.
She called for juvenile cases to be handled by appropriate courts and judges who specialise in juvenile matters.
“This ugly phenomenon of starving children facing charges of mutiny and treasonable felonies must stop. It shames us as a nation,” she stated, demanding accountability for those who fail to uphold existing laws and protect the rights of children.
Ezeilo urged prosecutors to exercise discretion and ethical judgment in the justice system, emphasising that justice must always prevail in accordance with the law.
Children’s rights are human rights, and Nigerian children’s rights must be respected and upheld. Children who are in conflict with the law should be redirected away from the formal judicial process. Recent events have significantly undermined our justice system, representing a…
— Prof. Joy N. Ezeilo (SAN, OON) (@NgoziEzeilo) November 3, 2024
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