The Anambra State Government says it is planning to establish a special court to ensure speedy prosecution and dispensation of justice for crimes against children and vulnerable persons in the state.
The state’s Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, disclosed this when she received members of the Association of Orphans and Vulnerable Children Organisation of Nigeria (AONN), in her office on Friday in Awka.
Mrs Obinabo said: “We made a case for the establishment of the special court when we resumed office.
“The court will have trained and experienced prosecutors to interact with children and vulnerable persons, provide support and ensure timely prosecution of the cases.
“Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration is ready to partner with organisations to protect the interest and future of these vulnerable ones in our state.”
Earlier, the National Coordinator of AONN, Marcus Williams, said the organisation sought to ensure that orphans and vulnerable children were educated, mentored, empowered and safe in the society.
According to Mr Williams, AONN has about 1,246 member organisations providing care and support for over 1, 973,000 orphans and vulnerable persons across the country as of December 2021.
He said the visit was to call the attention of the state government to the plight of orphans and vulnerable children as well as call for action to addressing their plight.
In her remarks, the Deputy National Coordinator of AONN, Uju Onyedilefu, urged the state to set up a technical committee which would ensure prompt response to issues of vulnerable children in the state.
(NAN)