A project aimed at providing an enabling environment for the protection of children has been launched by human rights based Non-Governmental Organization (N.G.O), Legal Resources Center in Accra.
The project dubbed ‘Child Justice’ is supported by the European Union (EU) and will run for three years to help bridge the gap between legislation and practice within the Ghanaian Child Justice system.
Therefore, it is aimed at ensuring the right input is given to facilitate the review and amendment of child related legislation for the promotion and protection of child rights.
Speaking at the launch, the Project Coordinator, Mr. Clarke Noyoru opined that, children’s right protection is a serious challenge confronting the country and needs to be addressed to secure the future of children.
Indicating, “this initiative has come to seek the reformation of laws, policies and procedures to improve access to justice for children, especially the Juvenile Justice Act, 2003 (Act 653), the Children’s Act, 1998 (Act 560) and its amendments,”.
In addition, the Project will also focus on the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), the Criminal Code and other offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), the Courts Act,1993 (Act 459) as amended, as well as other child related legislation and regulations.
This, he believes will provide legal assistance to at least 350 juveniles in conflict with the law in all 10 regions of Ghana during arrest, investigation, pre-trial, trial and committal stages.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Legal Resources Center, Ms. Daphne Lariba Nabila indicated that, the Project, at the end, is expected to strengthen partnership among stakeholders in the justice for children system.
Stating, effective collaboration is of essence for the realization of the project objectives, hence called on stakeholders to give the Centre the needed assistance to achieve success.
Adding her voice to the project course, the Director at the Department of Children at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mrs. Helena Obeng Asamoah admitted that even though Ghana had established comprehensive systems for the protection of children, the country still faces injustice.
Due to that, a call has been made to the various ministries to coordinate their administrative practices towards children’s development.
Speaking on behalf of Her Ladyship, Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo, Mrs. Angelina Mornah Domakyaareh, a Justice of the Court of Appeal, called for systems that will ensure that, children grow in the right environment.
Pointing out that, with this system in place, it would make children respect others’ rights and coexist with their neighbours to promote a peaceful society.
On the donor’s part, Mr. Joseph Bogrebon Allan, the Programme Manager of the EU, admitted that, human rights are central to the EU and will focus on results and measure the impact of the Project.
To him, children’s rights are the most abused that the Union will focus on the Project to ensure its success.
The Legal Resources Center is an NGO committed to the realisation of human dignity by building human right capacities.
