AFRUCA - Africans Unite Against Child Abuse has reacted strongly to the acquittal of the last two suspected killers of the 11 year old African boy - Damilola Taylor in London.The two 16 year olds were initially charged with murder, manslaughter and assault with intent to rob. Earlier in the year, a 15-year-old defendant was acquitted after the judge directed the jury to find him not guilty. Another defendant was also freed for a lack of evidence.

Speaking in London shortly after the verdict, AFRUCA Co-ordinator Modupe Ariyo said: "once again, this case has demonstrated that there is no justice in this country. Time and again African children have suffered the most horrific crime, including murder, and time and again the perpetrators have walked free, at most with a slap on the wrist."

She recalled that in December last year Tristan Gordon, a former pupil at St Joseph's Academy in Blackheath London was given just a 12 month custodial sentence for the murder of the 15 year old school boy Jude Akapa. On 12 March 15 year old Somalian boy Kayser Osman was also attacked and killed by bullies. "We wait to see what would happen to his killers." Ms Ariyo said.

Damilola Taylor and Jude Akapa were both of Nigerian origin, having migrated to the UK shortly before their death. In January this year, Africans Unite Against Child Abuse organised a conference focusing on the challenges migrant children face on arrival in the country. The conference participants voiced their huge concern over the rise in the cases of bullying and physical abuse of newly arrived children in the UK and called on the government to do something urgently.

"It seems to me that a pattern is developing. Increasingly, children coming straight in from Africa are ending up as victims of serious crime and nothing is being done to curtail this". Ms Ariyo said "after today's judgement, I doubt if any African in this country will have any faith left in the justice system. It doesn't protect us and it doesn't protect our children."

AFRUCA is now preparing a petition to be delivered directly to the Home Office Secretary of State complaining about the increase in the level of attacks on African children by other children and the inability of the system to curtail this. The petition, expected to be signed by at least 1,000 Africans, will demand better protection for African children and more action to deal with persistent bullies. "The government is doing nothing about bullying and our children's lives are being put at risk as a result," Miss Ariyo added.

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To read and sign Afruca's petition "Protect the African Child in the UK"
visit: www.petitiononline.com/afrchild/petition.html

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Note to Editors

AFRUCA - Africans Unite Against Child Abuse is a organisation concerned about cruelty against the African child. Our aim is to promote the welfare of African children worldwide.

 

Click to read a summary of our January 2002 Conference Report
"The Challenges of Migration: The Experiences of the African Child in the UK"

For further information about the Protect the African Child Petition and our other activities call

Tel: +44(0)20 7704 2261
Fax: +44(0)20 7704 2266
Post: AFRUCA, Unit 4S Leroy House, 436 Essex Road, London N1 3QP United Kingdom.

E-mail: info@AFRUCA.org