By Stellamaries Amuwa
The Canadian High Commission has reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to supporting global efforts aimed at protecting children affected by armed conflict and advancing the principles of child protection in conflict zones.
Speaking at a five-day training workshop for journalists on child-centred human rights reporting and the prevention of child recruitment and use in armed conflict, the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pasquale Salvaggio, said Canada remains dedicated to promoting initiatives that safeguard vulnerable children and strengthen peacebuilding efforts.
The workshop, organised by the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security in partnership with Journalists for Human Rights, was held in Abuja.
Represented by the Counsellor (Political), Omar Alihashi, Salvaggio said Canada continues to support international efforts that uphold the principles of the Vancouver Principles, which seek to prevent the recruitment and use of children in armed conflicts.
According to him, prevention, partnership and knowledge-sharing remain essential tools for building safer and more resilient communities.
“This workshop reflects those values. It brings together journalists and practitioners to strengthen understanding, share expertise and explore how reporting can contribute to protecting children and supporting broader peace and security efforts,” he said.
The envoy stressed the critical role of the media in ensuring that issues relating to conflict and child protection are reported with professionalism, sensitivity and respect for the rights of affected children.
He encouraged participants to take advantage of the learning opportunities offered by the training, noting that the knowledge and networks built during the programme could contribute significantly to positive change across communities in Nigeria.
Earlier, a representative of the Dallaire Institute, Mrs. Offiong Nsa, said the training was designed to enhance journalists’ capacity to report responsibly on children affected by armed conflict while challenging narratives that portray children solely as perpetrators of violence.
She noted that children remain among the most vulnerable victims of conflict, often subjected to exploitation, coercion and recruitment by armed groups.
“The use of children in armed conflict is one of the most egregious violations of human rights,” she said, warning that children are frequently treated as expendable instruments of war.
Nsa urged journalists to adopt child-centred reporting approaches that prioritise the dignity, safety and welfare of children while holding perpetrators accountable.
According to her, ethical and responsible storytelling can help expose recruitment networks, influence policy responses and strengthen efforts to prevent the involvement of children in armed violence.
Also speaking, the Africa Programme Director of Journalists for Human Rights, Mustapha Dumbuya, said the training forms part of broader efforts to strengthen media capacity across Africa in human rights and conflict-sensitive reporting.
He explained that the organisation operates in more than 30 countries, using media development as a tool for advancing human rights education and accountability.
“The media plays a critical role in shaping opinions and influencing behaviour, which is why working with journalists is a strategic way of advancing human rights education,” he said.
In her goodwill message, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists FCT Council, Grace Ike, called on journalists to exercise empathy, discipline and professionalism when reporting on children affected by conflict.
Represented by the Council’s Treasurer, Sandra Chukwugekwu, Ike urged media practitioners to avoid sensationalism and protect the identities of child victims.
She also advocated stronger collaboration among government agencies, civil society organisations and the media to combat the recruitment and use of children in armed violence and promote child protection across the country.
