Lagos State has launched the Child Sexual Abuse Investigative and Interview Protocol to improve access to justice for sexually abused children and protect their rights.
Speaking at Thursday’s unveiling, the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, said the protocol would ensure that child victims are heard with dignity and that investigations adhere strictly to the rule of law.
He praised partners, including the CeCe Yara Foundation and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption programme, for turning the idea into reality. “When a child speaks about abuse, their words must be taken seriously and acted upon based on facts, not sentiment,” Pedro stressed, reaffirming the state’s commitment to justice reform and child protection.
Bisi Ajayi-Kayode, CEO of CeCe Yara Foundation, described the launch as the realisation of a long-held vision, highlighting how poor forensic interviewing has previously caused secondary trauma and denied victims justice.
The foundation’s founder, Mrs Bola Tinubu, called the initiative “a voice for children,” noting that Lagos is now the first state in Nigeria to adopt a forensic interviewing protocol for child sexual abuse cases. She said the existing justice process often retraumatises victims and weakens prosecutions, making this reform essential.
“This is a bold step towards a system that truly works for children,” Tinubu said, urging stakeholders to see the launch as the start of sustained reforms rather than the final destination.
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