29 children in Nigeria are likely to face the death penalty after months of political unrest and protests – JURIST

29 children are in Nigeria threatens the death penalty after he was charged with crimes Crimes including treason, destruction of property, public disorder and mutiny. This The 76 people who attended included children between the ages of fourteen and seventeen On Friday he was arrested by police and taken to court after taking part in protests against the cost of living that has prevailed in Nigeria since August.

Lawyers and good governance advocates have sentenced this law states that it
constitutes a violation of the Child Rights Act of Nigeria. The law grants children the right to peacefully assemble in accordance with the law and the provisions of the law the guidance of their parents or guardians. It is also said that a child who has allegedly committed an act that would constitute a criminal offense as an adult Subject to children's court systems and procedures. This also includes the deployment of the police Investigations and judgments in court as a last resort when dealing with Child offenders.

The law provides alternative options for disposing of the case legal settlement, support and compensation for victims. Although these particular ones The provisions apply to non-serious offenses and are at the discretion of the person dealing with them It is up to the child offenders to decide whether these alternative measures can be used in a case concrete case.

The Child Rights Act also provides for the detention of a suspected minor offender pending trial be used as a last resort and that the detention of the child is deemed necessary must be cared for, protected and supported as needed they could have. Due process that meets the requirements of a fair hearing must also be ensured be respected by the court deciding on matters affecting children. Furthermore, the court has to behave in such a way that the well-being of the child is safeguarded at all times.

While according to the Nigerian Penal Code the punishment for treason is death Various international conventions protect the 29 children from this impending judgment Sentence. These include the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which states that no death penalty shall be imposed for crimes committed by persons under eighteen years of age years old. The Convention on the Rights of the Child also prohibits the death penalty for people under eighteen years of age. Aside from that, Guaranteed protection measures Protecting the rights of those facing the death penalty states that persons under 18 years of age Anyone who is of legal age at the time of committing a crime is not punished with the death penalty.

UNICEF was called to deal with this matter.