For over a decade, the States of Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe in Nigeria have experienced significant challenges relating to serious crimes against children in the insecurity context. Children in these regions have been systematically targeted and recruited by these groups; coerced into participation in violent activities; and/or subjected to various forms of exploitation.
In 2024, recognizing the urgent need to address these alarming trends, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) through its End Violence Against Children (ENDVAC) Team1, is launching a comprehensive project “Protecting Children From Violence in Contexts of Insecurity, North-East Nigeria” aimed at enhancing child protection measures and accountability mechanisms in the affected areas.
Drawing on the valuable lessons learned from UNODC’s achievements in Nigeria since 2018 in the area of child protection, including through the successful implementation of STRIVE Juvenile, the project is guided by international and national law as well as human rights principles and has a strong focus on preventing recruitment and re-recruitment and promoting the rehabilitation and reintegration of affected children through a whole of government and society approach.
An integral component of the project will be a youth-led awareness-raising campaign in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, that actively engages young people in promoting peace and creating platforms for intergenerational dialogue and cooperation. The campaign aims to build the resilience of children and their communities in targeted local government areas (LGAs) in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States as a key component of support for reconciliation efforts. It will contribute to the:
- Prevention of the recruitment of vulnerable children including re-recruitment of those that have already reintegrated into their communities.
- Acceptance and reduced stigmatisation of reintegrated children.