VALIDATION WORKSHOP ON THE FORMATIVE RESEARCH AIMED AT EXPLORING PROMISING PRACTICES IN ADVANCING THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT 2015.
On the 27th of March 2024, FIDA (Nigeria) Abuja Branch conducted a validation workshop on the formative research aimed at exploring promising practices in advancing the rights of women and children through the Administration of Criminal Justice Act in the FCT.
The Participants were drawn From the Four Categories of Respondents who took part in the Research Process. Representatives from the FCT Judiciary, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Federal Ministry of Justice (FMOJ), National Human Rights Commission(NHRC), Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC), Administration of Criminal Justice Reform (ACJR), Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIAL), Law Enforcement agencies such as National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Civil Society Organizations/Gender Experts e. g WACOL, CLEEN Foundation and a member of the General Public attended the workshop.
The Workshop commenced with an opening remark read by the Chairperson of the Branch, Chibuzo M. Nwosu on behalf of the Country Vice President, Amina Suzanah Agbaje who was unavoidably absent. In her remark, she welcomed Participants to the workshop, informed participants of the essence of the project and its aim. She however wished them a successful deliberation. 
Following the opening remark, the Project Lead for the Mac-Arthur Project, Mariam Omeiza, presented a report of the FCT findings. At the end of her presentation, participants were engaged in an interactive group work/session wherein participants made observations while agreeing on the report of the findings presented to them.
Recommendations and strategies to be deployed in tackling the challenges faced by relevant stakeholders in protecting/safeguarding the rights of women and children especially as it pertains to pre-trial and trial proceedings, were also made.
At the end of the group work, findings were validated and next steps were mapped out by the Project Lead, Mariam Omeiza and as the Branch’s Project Committee Chairperson, Ogechi Abu, issued a vote of thanks.
