Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on Tuesday pledged his administration’s support to UNICEF to promote and protect Children’s Rights as enshrined in the UN charter and the country’s constitution.

Idris made the pledge at the inauguration of a Model Specialised Children Police Unit in Abuja, saying his administration was committed to giving every support needed to promote the right of every child.

He challenged other domestic, international, national, governmental and Non-governmental Organisations to support the fight against violence against children in the country.

Idris called on UNICEF and other aspiring supporters of the police, to continue to support it by way of providing local and international training for personnel.

The Police Boss who spoke through Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of operations, Joshak Habila commended UNICEF for its financial and physical support to the police.

Child Protection Specialist at UNICEF, Olasunbo Odebode called on the police to hold perpetrators responsible for their acts of violence against children to avoid future occurrence, saying the police and other justice sector institutions have key roles to play in achieving the objectives.

Odebode said UNICEF would continue to support the Nigeria Police to effectively respond to violence against children in collaboration with other key sectors, enjoining all states in the country to domesticate the Child’s Rights Act 2003.

She urged all institutions and persons to translate into concrete action Nigeria’s commitment to end all forms of violence against children, saying Nigerian children deserved a safe space where they would be protected from physical, sexual and emotional violence.

Odebode said Nigeria was among the 14 countries to have conducted a survey on the prevalence of violence against children, saying the specialised police children units would be replicated in 18 states of the country.

Force Gender Coordinator and Advisor to the Inspector-General of Police, Margaret Ochalla said 410 police officers had been trained on handling children cases in 13 state commands.

Ochalla, an Assistant Commissioner of Police said sensitisation programme on general guidelines and standard operating procedures were also held for commissioners of police and DPOs of the state commands.

The unit is a specialised desk, team or squad mandated to handle specific issues on violence against children of police officers.

The project was executed with the support of UNICEF, EU and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Those who attended the function included representatives of UNODC, EU, UN and UN women.