A Family Support Unit built and equipped by the Rule of Law and
Anti-corruption – ROLAC , has been inaugurated at Central Police Station Awka
The unit which will serve as a place of interrogation for victims of rape, molestation, gender based violence and sexual assaults will be managed by the Police Station.
Speaking at the event, the Anambra State Chief Judge, Justice Onochie Anyachabelu said Family Support Unit across the country aimed at enhancing access to justice for children and to improve the handling of children in contact with the law.
Justice Anyachebelu represented by Justice Akabua noted that if the fundamental rights of children if denied at the early stage of life, they will continue to face various challenges ,stating that children need to be protected, nurtured, cared and catered for so as not to be involved in juvenile practices.
He commended RoLAC for its support in facilitating access to justice through engagement and building capacities of various justice institutio
ns to work ,assuring of support to all the activities of the programme in the state.
Also speaking, the Attorney General of the state and Commmissioer for Justice Barrister Uju Nworgu represented by the Assistant Director Ministry of Justice and Secretary of the Anambra State Justice Sector Reform Team, Barr. Rose Okeke while thanking the RoLAC Programme for its various interventions noted that SGBV and Juvenile offenses are no longer a family, kindred, village or community matter but rather a state offense, that requires adequate awareness and requested that officers posted to the newly established FSU should uphold professionalism to avoid scaring the victims away.
Earlier the State Coordinator of RoLAC Mrs. Josephine Onah acknowledged the support RoLAC has received from Anambra State Police Command under the leadership of CP John Abang and how much it has facilitated their work. She noted that the FSU encompassing Specialized Children’s Unit was established as part of requirements for the implementation of the Child’s Rights Law which works in conjunction with other platforms that RoLAC is supporting in providing responses and support for sexual and other child related abuses including the Sexual Assault Referral Centre which provides medical treatment, counselling and follow up support to survivors of sexual assault.
According to Mrs Onah proper investigation and handling of cases at the level of the FSU will facilitate the adjudication and disposal of such cases at the court thereby promote access to justice for vulnerable people especially children, women and persons with disabilities and encouraged the Unit to synergize with the other platforms and the Family Court that RoLAC recently established.
In his remarks the State Police Commissioner, Mr Abang acknowledged the efforts of the RoLAC Programme in the capacity building of members of the Police Force towards ensuring a new face in handling of cases of SGBV and other juvenile offenses and reaffirmed his support to the various interventions . Recall that this is the 2nd Family Support Unitestablisged by RoLAC in the strate.
The occasion was graced by Senior Police Officers from the Command, members of Anambra State Child Rights Implementation Committee ASCRIC, Committee on Violence Against Persons Prohibition Committee VAPP and Child Protection Netwirk, CPN.
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