UNICEF, with help from the European Union, is training Sharia Court judges in Kano and the Hisbah Board, often known as the Shari’a Police, on how to properly administer the new Kano State Child Protection Law.
The three-day training organized by UNICEF for Shari’a Court Judges and Hisbah, which begins on Tuesday, is intended to strengthen stakeholders’ awareness and competence to apply it. Addressing reporters on the occasion, the workshop facilitator, Prof Muhammad Tabiu, stated that the law was enacted last year and that Shari’a Courts are among those listed to execute the laws in their courts.
He stressed how important it is for them to understand the aims and boundaries of the legislation while dealing with issues involving children in their courts. Furthermore, Shari’a Police play an important role and must be trained in accordance with the same standards.
“This is for us to consult with stakeholders, develop awareness, and implement the Kano State Child Protection Law.
“We know that this law was passed last year and is about the protection of children in the state, and two of the major institutions that have very high responsibility for implementing these laws are the Shari’a Court Judges and the Hisbah, in particular, Shari’a Courts are listed in that law as the courts that are responsible for the implementation of these laws.”
“Being a new law, it is very important that the court judges and, of course, the Hisbah and others who are involved in law enforcement, know what are the provisions of that law, what are its objectives, how does it provide for the rights of children, how does it protect children, what are the various offences that can be committed in relation to children, which are the concern of that law, which are punished by that law, what kind of institutions are created by that
“These are the things that will occupy us in this workshop for three days starting from today,” he went on to say.
On what they hope to achieve by the end of the workshop, he stated that they want a good understanding and appreciation of what the law provides for children in Kano State, which will improve the skills of Shari’a Court Judges who will sit in the court and hear cases involving children.
Speaking to reporters on behalf of the judges, Abubakar Haruna, the chief registrar of the Shari’a Court of Appeal Kano State, stated, “This is a very important gathering that touches on important aspects of Shari’a in Kano State in particular and Nigeria in general.” The subject of child rights is extremely significant, and it is addressed in many of our laws.
“Most crucially, issues are now being addressed, as legal luminaries and important experts under the care of UNICEF assembled to draft this bill, which was subsequently enacted into law.
“This is something that influences many aspects of our lives. Children, as we all know, are vital people that must be cared for based on their ages, infirmities, and vulnerabilities in society. “We need to raise awareness of all the laws that will protect them,” he stated. Also, the representative of the Sharia Police at the session organized by UNICEF, Abdullahi Babangida, who is the Director Special Duties, Kano State Hisbah Board, described the training as important because it will reorient the operations of the law enforcement agency in terms of rights.
“This session will improve our men’s understanding of how to avoid treating children in inappropriate ways when they encounter them.
“They will understand the implementation and principles of the child rights law and work according to the provisions,” he went on to say.
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