Lagos State Government has launched the Child Sexual Abuse Investigative and Interview Protocol, a comprehensive framework aimed at improving justice delivery for children who have suffered sexual abuse.
Speaking at the launch in Lagos yesterday, the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN, described the initiative as a critical step toward protecting children’s rights and dignity within the justice system.
Pedro commended partners, including the Cece Yara Foundation and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption, ROLAC, Programme, for their collaboration in transforming the concept into reality.
He emphasised that the protocol would help ensure that the accounts of abused children are treated with seriousness and care, allowing legal decisions to be guided by facts rather than sentiment.
“This protocol is vital for our children because when a child speaks about abuse, their words must be taken seriously.
“Their experiences should be handled with the utmost sensitivity to ensure that justice is served without further harm,” Pedro stated.
Bisi Ajayi-Kayode, Chief Executive Officer of the Cece Yara Foundation, said the launch marked the fulfilment of a vision conceived at the foundation’s inception.
She noted that inadequate forensic interviewing in the past had often led to secondary trauma for victims and miscarriages of justice.
Founder of the Cece Yara Foundation, Mrs Bola Tinubu, described the protocol as “a voice for children,” reiterating that the foundation was created to ensure children are heard, protected, and granted the justice they deserve.
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