Appraisal of The Legal Framework For Protecting Rights of The Child And The Role of Unicef In Promoting Rights of The Child In Nigeria

Appraisal of The Legal Framework For Protecting Rights of The Child And The Role of Unicef In Promoting Rights of The Child In Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

United Nations Children Fund is an international Institution that deals with the promotion and protection of the rights of children in times of peace and during emergency situations.

Restrictively, this thesis aimed at studying the activities of UNICEF in the promotion and protection of the Rights of the child in Nigeria.

The sources of information relied upon are, relevant books, statutes, judicial authorities, articles in Journal publications, newspapers, magazines, and conference and internet materials.

The justification for these theses is that, despite the long years of UNICEF’s presence in Nigeria, the situation of the Nigerian child is still very poor.

In addition, of recent, many crises have subjected children in Nigeria to untold hardship and reduced them to objects of sympathy, especially, the ongoing Boko Haram crisis in the North-Eastern part of the country where children are involved in calamities along with adults, but painfully, children being vulnerable and defenceless are exposed to all manners of hardship and suffering.

Thus, in view of this, the objective of this thesis is to identify the activates of UNICEF that will promote, protect the rights of the child as well as alleviate the suffering of children in Emergency situations in Nigeria.

Thus the finding of this research among others is that due to the mandate of UNICEF as an inter-governmental agency, the Fund, although an agency dedicated solely to children, ironically has limited interaction with children and thus lacks practical experience in dealing with children.

In view of this, the research was concluded by recommending among others that UNICEF should encourage Child Participation in all its programs as well as initiate programs that will increase direct interaction with children.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study                           1

Statement of the Research Problem       3

Aim and Objectives of the study              4

Justification                                                 4

Scope of the Study                                      5

Research Methodology                              5

Literature Review                                       6

Organizational Layout                              13

CHAPTER TWO MEANING, ORIGIN AND MANDATE OF UNICEF

Introduction

The meaning, Origin and Nature of UNICEF

Structure of UNICEF

Activities of UNICEF in its early years

The Mandate of UNICEF

Funding of UNICEF

CHAPTER THREE THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF THE RIGHTS OF A CHILD IN INTERNATIONAL LAW

Introduction

Meaning of a Child

Meaning of Child Right

The Legal Framework for the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of a Child

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The African Charter on Human and People‘s Rights

The Child Rights Act

The Criminal Code

CHAPTER FOUR UNICEF OPERATIONS IN NIGERIA

Introduction

Activities of UNICEF in promoting and protecting the Rights of the Child in Nigeria

Survival and Early Care

Basic Education

Protection and Participation

Planning and Communication

Emergencies

Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

Education

Nutrition

Health

Media and External Communication

An Overview of the Activities of UNICEF in other Jurisdictions

Collaboration with Religions Communities

Cash Assistance

Establishing Databases for Children

Encouraging Child Participation

CHAPTER FIVE SUMMARY, FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS

Introduction

Summary

Findings

Recommendations

Conclusions

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

It is generally known and accepted that children need special care and protection and are dependent upon the aid and assistance of adults, especially in the early years of their existence.¹ In their early years, children depend on adults for their feeding, clothing, and indeed all other aspect of their existence.

Under International Human Rights Law, children are considered to be among the vulnerable group and therefore are disadvantaged and needs to be protected by the law. Thus there is no questioning the fact that children constitute the most vulnerable and powerless members of the society. However, the concept that children have specific rights deserving of enforcement and protection is a comparatively modern development. The popular assumption in times past was that most adults and parents in particular, had the best interests of the child at heart, there was thus no necessity to think in terms of children‘s right.²

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Ayua A. et al (eds) The Rights of the Child in Nigeria. NIALs, LAGOS (1996). Bainham A. Children. The Modern Law, Jordan Publishing Ltd., London, Second Edition 1998.

Dan O‘ Donnell (2004) Child Protection: A Handbook for Parliamentarians. UNICEF & INTER-PARLIAMENTRY UNION, New York. USA.

Gerison Landsdown (2001). Promoting children‘s Participation in Democratic Decision-Making UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, Florence. Italy.

Gerison Landsdown et, al (2011). Child Safety Online: Global Challenges and Strategies. UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, Florence. Italy.

Katey Grusovin, et al. (2009). Children and Conflict in a Changing World UNICEF, New York. USA.

Ladan, M.T. Introduction to International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, A.B.U. Press, Zaria (1999).

Lois Jensen (2010). Women‘s & Children‘s Rights: Making the Connection UNICEF and UNFPA, New York. Usa.

Maggic Black. The Children and the Nations. The Story of UNCIEF, P.I.C. PTY Ltd. Sydney (1986).

Michael Millen et al (2007).Protecting the Rights of Children with Disabilities.

Innocent Digest Series, No. 13, UNICEF New York. USA.

Mike Jempson et. al. (2005). The Media and Children‘s Rights. Media Wise and UNICEF. New York. USA

Rehman J. International Human Rights Law. Pearson Education Limited, England, Second Edition (2010).

Stephen Hammer et al (2012). Partnering with Religious Communities for Children UNICEF, New York. USA.

Tracy Robinson et al (2008). Legislative Reform Related to the Convention on the Rights of the child in Diverse Legal Systems. Legislative Reform Initiative paper series. UNICEF Gender, Rights and Civic Engagement Section, Division of Policy and Practice, New York. USA.