First Child Law School Set-up in Ghana

The Centre for Juvenile Delinquency (CEJUDEL), a Non- Governmental Organisation, has initiated a Child Law School to educate children and the youth about the laws of the nation.

The CEJUDEL on Saturday 6th October 2018, held its First Child Law School session at the Ghana Girl Guides Association Headquarters in Achimota, Accra.

Mrs Joana Kyeremateng, the Executive Director of CEJUDEL, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency said, being the first of its kind in the nation, the Child Law School initiative is aimed at familiarizing Ghanaian children with the Ghanaian legal regime, particularly the laws and institutions pertaining to children.

“This is the first step by CEJUDEL to produce a generation of legally equipped and empowered children who know their rights and able to take positive actions against abuse; an action embedded in our slogan: Safeguarding the Future of Our Nation through Justice for Juveniles and Child Victims,” she added.

The first Child Law School session saw an interaction between a team of lawyers and 50 young girls from the ages of 10-18 years who were selected from various basic and junior high schools in Accra. The children were taught the laws of Ghana, some rights of children in Ghana, sexual and other criminal offences against children, and the institutions with a child protection mandate.

The programme also included a rapid survey to gather data on the reaction of young girls to sexual abuse. At the end of the training, participants received a guide book each as part of the child law school package.

The Center for Juvenile Delinquency is an organisation mandated to protect and advocate justice for the vulnerable, deprived and marginalised children and youth, who become involved with courts, as well as victims of crime within the justice system of Ghana.

The CEJUDEL hopes to organise more Child Law School programmes, extending to children of all age groups in the Basic, Junior and Senior High levels of education.

Source: GNA