The Lagos State Government has unveiled the Child Sexual Abuse Investigative and Interview Protocol, a comprehensive framework designed to enhance justice delivery for children who have suffered sexual abuse.
Speaking at the launch in Lagos on Thursday, the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN, described the initiative as a critical step towards safeguarding children’s rights and dignity within the justice system.
Pedro commended the Cece Yara Foundation and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) Programme for their collaboration in bringing the project to fruition. He stressed that the protocol would ensure that victims’ testimonies are treated with utmost seriousness and care, enabling legal outcomes to be guided by evidence rather than emotion.
“This protocol is vital for our children because when a child speaks about abuse, their words must be taken seriously. Their experiences should be handled with the utmost sensitivity to ensure justice is served without further harm,” Pedro said.
Bisi Ajayi-Kayode, Chief Executive Officer of the Cece Yara Foundation, said the launch represented the realisation of a vision conceived at the organisation’s inception. She noted that in the past, poor forensic interviewing often resulted in secondary trauma for victims and miscarriages of justice.
Founder of the Cece Yara Foundation, Mrs Bola Tinubu, described the protocol as “a voice for children”, reaffirming the foundation’s commitment to ensuring that children are heard, protected, and granted the justice they deserve.
