Stakeholders in the legal industry, yesterday, lamented poor implementation of the Child Rights Act by states.

According to them, the dismal execution of the law is hampering chances for effective reformation, rehabilitation and eventual reintegration of incarcerated children into the society

The stakeholders, therefore, proposed guidelines to the courts to consider age, mental capacity and vulnerability of children involved in litigation.

They spoke at a sensitisation workshop on proposed adjudication guidelines for children and young persons in conflict with the Laws of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja.

The event brought together experts from different legal institutions in the country to brainstorm on factors impeding full implementation of the Act despite coming into effect in 2003.

Director, Criminal Justice Reform Department, Federal Ministry of Justice, Leticia Ayoola Daniels, while corroborating the slow implementation of the law, added that the proposed adjudication guidelines would facilitate things.

Represented by the Deputy Director in the ministry, Godwin Iheabunike, she expressed hope that the guidelines would provide uniformity in the adjudication process of judges.

Also speaking, retired Controller of Corrections, Francis Enobore, called for new legal procedures that would protect future of young offenders.

He charged the Federal Government to put in place programmes that would redirect minds of young children from crimes.

Equally, the Lead Consultant, Ugonna Ezekwem, said part of the efforts to ensure that the justice system works for young offenders in Nigeria would be the adoption of the proposed adjudication guidelines by relevant legal bodies.

“Our mission is to develop guidelines that will support the courts in doing their work when they sentence those children. So, today (yesterday), we came together to discuss the guidelines that we have developed over the past few weeks.”