Action Aid Nigeria (AAN) has demanded that the 67 children and other demonstrators who were held by security forces during the August #EndBadGovernance demonstrations be released immediately. The recent harassment and detentions of nonviolent protestors, including children, were denounced by AAN as a violation of democratic principles. Reports about the treatment of children who took part in the protests are of special concern to the organization.
In situations where the law is broken, juveniles should not be treated as adults, as stated explicitly in the Constitution and the Child Rights Act. This Act is broken when the government fails to safeguard young people who are at risk from abuse and neglect. Nigeria, a party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, agrees, according to the national director, that children should be given a chance at rehabilitation rather than harsh punishment.
The law even mandates that kids be housed in facilities apart from those for adults and that juvenile courts handle their cases first, with the goal of rehabilitation rather than punishment. The court granted these 67 children bail of ₦10 million each, placing a hefty price tag on their release.
Mamedu demanded that the human rights tenets that are the foundation of a robust democracy be reaffirmed. In order to establish trust and promote advancement for all Nigerians, he emphasized a strategy that places a high value on communication and observance of democratic liberties, citing the right to protest as a basic component of democratic governance.
ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) is requesting the immediate release of 67 minors who have been detained
