Abia Chief Judge Inaugurates Human Rights C’ttee

Abia State Chief Judge (CJ), Justice Lillian Abai, has inaugurated the State’s Diversion Steering and Operational Steering Committee in Umuahia, to enhance the protection of human rights in the state.
She charged members of the committee to coordinate diversion activities, review performance to ensure adherence to human rights standards and restorative goals.

The CJ said the move is designed to promote restorative justice mechanism, legal safety guidance for children to cushion adverse effects of prosecution and criminalisation.

She enjoined them to promote objective fairness, transparency and strengthen public awareness of diversion as a lawful, safe and rigorous response to children who come into conflict with the law.

While stressing that the assignment demands fairness and efficiency, she added that the outcome will go a long way to determine the fate of children in conflict with the law in the state.

Responding on behalf of the other members, the chairman of the committee, Chinedu Enweruzor, assured of their commitment to delivering on the assignment as expected.

‎He said the move will provide assistance for rehabilitation and reintegration instead of punishment and stigmatisation as obtainable in child’s right law and international best practices.

‎Enweruzor, who is also the mayor of Umuahia South local government area, appreciated the CJ for the confidence reposed in them.