Strengthening Child Protection in Post-Conflict Communities in North East Nigeria

Children are usually the most vulnerable in armed conflict and post-conflict environments. Beyond being afflicted by humanitarian crises occasioned by armed conflicts, they suffer grave violations of their human rights by both state and non-state actors involved in the armed conflicts. Grave violations of rights include crimes identified by the United Nations, such as killing and maiming of children; recruitment or use of children as soldiers; sexual violence against children; abduction of children; attacks against schools or hospitals; detention of children for their alleged association with armed groups and denial of access to humanitarian services for children. Since the armed conflict occasioned by the insurgency perpetrated by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), communities in Nigeria’s North East have experienced grave violations of the rights of children. The third report of the United Nations Secretary-General on the situation in Nigeria contains alarming information on the impact of armed conflict on children, particularly as it concerns grave violations against children by actors in the armed conflict in North East Nigeria. According to the report, between January 2020 and December 2021, there were at least 694 grave violations against 532 children verified in the three conflict-affected North East states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

This edition of Nextier SPD Policy Weekly answers the above questions by examining the state of child protection systems and mechanisms in the North East and proffers actionable strategies for strengthening existing systems and mechanisms for protecting children in post-conflict communities in the North East.

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