By Nasratu Kargbo
The Executive Director of Defense for Children International Abdul Manaff Kemokai has appealed for criminal prosecution not to be used when dealing with the children arrested for being part of the protests on the 10th August 2022.
Speaking on the 18th August 2022 during an engagement held between President Julius Maada Bio and Civil Society Organization (CSOs) in relation to the insurrection that occurred on the 10th August, Kemokai appealed that children that were arrested be treated like kids.
He advised that the children’s families should be traced and that they be reunited with their families and reintegrated into society. Kemokai however recommended that the children be reintegrated after they would have been cautioned and educated on issues surrounding protests.
He explained that the children were victims of circumstances and condemned the protests, which led to the arrest of at least 38 children across the country. Ten of the children arrested are girls. He said 24 of the arrests made were in Freetown, 5 in Makeni, whilst 4 were made in Kamakwie, and 5 in Magburaka.
Kemokai asked that the government ratifies the Optional Protocol 3 that provides a mechanism for children to make complaints when they are aggrieved, saying that children should not go to the police, noting that it is “not too child friendly”.
He said a problem the country has been faced with is always reacting instead of instituting preventive mechanisms. Proffering some recommendations in this regard, Kemokai said the National Council for Civic Education and Development (NaCCED) and the Ministry of Information and Communications can play a huge role by educating the young people through youth-led outreach programmes.
He called on the government to expand the complaint mechanism, explaining that people hurt each other very often and that providing a place for the aggrieved will help solve the problem. He said the Family Support Unit of the Police , and Legal Aid Board are always overwhelmed with cases.
Copyright © Politico Online (19/08/22)
