Juvenile offenders share cells with Adult Prisoners

Tamale, Oct. 22, GNA - Offending children in the Northern Region are been kept in adult prisons because an arrangement that once keep them apart has collapsed, a 43- member-network working for the protection and enforcement of the right and protection of children in the Northern region said.

The group said the arrangement was only illegal but dangerous since being with adult prisoners exposed them to many forms of dangers. They raised these concerns in Tamale on Wednesday during an emergency meeting to discuss planned programmes for the 2010. The network's activities were funded by the UNICEF and headed by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE). They said the existence of the remand homes in the past which was then under the Department of Social Welfare, help in the rehabilitation of children who fell foul of the law to properly to fit into society. "But since children are currently kept in the same prisons with adult inmates, the adults teach them criminal tricks which the children come out of the prisons to practice."

According to the group, the arrangement was a contributing factor to the ascending rate of crimes in the society including drug peddling and addiction, armed robbery among others and called on the state to take a second look at such practices that take undue advantage of children. Mr. Haruna Husheini Sulamana, Northern Regional Director of NCCE, said children's rights must be fully protected and enforced through consistent advocacy and sensitization.

He said issues on children's future development must not be handled haphazardly by parents and society and urged all member agencies to work vigorously to protect the rights of children to ensure they had a good future.

Activities lined up by the network to undertake in 2010 include; creating a child friendly environment for children to develop their full potential, strengthening the network to mainstream social protection and to embark on massive public education, sensitization and awareness campaigns.