Summary of Global Rights Nigeria Three Day Workshop on the Rights of Civilians in Armed Conflicts Which Held in Abuja on 17th - 19th August, 2016 with the Theme: 'The Rights of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.'
GlobalRights Nigeria is a human rights organization whose core responsibility is to
advocate for a just society, based on the universal principles of regard for
human dignity, freedom, and access to justice amongst others.
It
was based on the excessive abuse of the above values that the workshop was
organized to sensitize all stakeholders on their duties in conflicts
situations; and to partner with them in developing an enduring methodical
templates in confronting and bringing under control violent activities without
any form of excesses - as has been widely reported in the North-East,
Middle-Belt, South-South, and other violence-infested regions in Nigeria.
The
occasion began with the National Anthem, reception and acknowledgement of
guests by the organizers, and was quickly followed by goodwill messages from
representatives of various institutions; after which the keynote address was
presented by Prof. Bem Angwe, E. S from National Human Rights Commission.
After
observing the official pleasantries, speakers were given the floor to make
their presentations.
First
on the list was Prof. Oshita O. Oshita of Institute for Peace and Conflicts
Resolution (IPCR) who brainstormed on the topic: An Introduction- Understanding
Non-International Armed Conflicts. He took the audience on a journey of what
the subject matter and asymmetrical warfare is all about, as well as the roll
of IPCR in advocating for a peaceful coexistence between individuals and groups
irrespective of the provocation; in order to pave way for growth and national
development.
Next
on the list was Ms. Idayat Hassan of Centre for Democracy and Development
(CDD). She focused on the overview of:
The Rights of Civilians in Non-International Armed Conflicts; taking the
participants through the various provisions and sections of the law that
safeguard citizens' rights in such chaotic circumstances.
According
to Ms. Hassan, the primary function of CDD is to partner relevant agencies for
the engendering of democratic and developmental policies for the benefit
all.
The
Regional Manager/Conflict Analyst; Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation
Programme (NSRP) North East, in person of Hajiya Hamsatu A. Allamin spoke on
the theme: 'Promoting and Protecting the Rights of Women in Armed Conflicts.'
She began by reminding the participants that the cultural and social norms
across the globe are already unfavorable to the women fold, and why care must
be taken to avoid further compounding of the debilitating trend.
In the cause of her presentation, Hajiya
Allamin highlighted several prejudices which have mitigated against the women,
especially during crises situation as it is currently being recorded mostly in
the North East. On what she referred to as the CURRENT TRENDS, she outlined
several humiliating challenges plaguing the women as: illiteracy, disease,
poverty, insecurity, and subsequent infringement on their rights without any
recognizable voice to make a case for them; thus making the North East the
epicenter of IDPs totaling about 2.4million, out of which 2million (85%) are in
Bornu, 9% at the IDP camps, and the host communities containing 90%.
On
the GBV EMERGING TRENDS in the NORTH EAST, the analyst said that whilst there's
an intensified efforts against terror and other predominant crimes by relevant
stakeholders; however, there have also been an increase in the abduction of
women and children; thus preventing them from realizing their dreams. Worse
still, she noted with nostalgia that women who were victims of rape, forced
marriages and abduction are further stigmatized, rejected, and secluded from the group... a
situation which has made the rehabilitation process an unproductive venture
because such unsympathetic treatment metamorphosed into another rounds of
emotional and psychological breakdown which is very difficult for them to
overcome.
In
conclusion, Hajiya Allamin made reference to the 5 pillars of UNSCR 1325 which
are:
*Participation,
*Protection,
*Prevention,
*Promotion
and
*Effective
Prevention and Monitoring Strategies.
She postulated that the women cannot be said
to be partners in progress, neither would the lyrics of gender equality make
any sense, if these prescriptions are ignored by all stakeholders in all
sphere(s) of human endeavors.
Thus,
the need for relevant authorities to roll up their sleeves and get down to
serious business; in order to subdue the incessant abuses and subjection of
women and children to unimaginable proportion of suffering during crises.
The
last speaker for the day, Ms. Abiodum Baiyewu-Teru of Global Rights Nigeria
dealt with the topic: Responding to Sexual Violence in Situations of Armed
Conflict. Her reality-based presentation painted a gory picture of the women
and underage girls who are consistently being subjected to varying forms of
sexual abuse without any strong legal action and disciplinary measures being
instituted against the perpetrators (some of whom unfortunately, are the state
actors, the very instruments that are supposed to protect them from harm).
The
workshop continued on the second day with the same vigor by guests with each
speaker taking the audience into a deeper atmosphere of genuine concern for the
affected persons during conflict situations; as it is presently in many parts
of the country, particularly in the North East region.
Ms.
Amina Alkali, of the Nur Alkali Development Initiative (NADI) spoke on the
topic: A Situational Analysis of IDPs and Refugees in Nigeria’s North-East
Crisis. She intimated the house on the dynamics of the crisis in the North-East
region of Nigeria which has brought about many issues. One of the most
important issues is the existence of displaced persons and families. Because of
the crisis, persons are either forced to flee their localities or are left with
no homes to shelter them. Thus, they're left to seek refuge and shelter either
externally or internally, thereby, being referred to as internally displaced
persons or refugees.
Furthermore, Ms. Alkali enumerated the
obligations of Government towards IDPs as follows:
•
To prevent and avoid arbitrary displacement
•
Make the camps habitable
•
Protect and assist during displacement
•
Provide security for all persons in the IDP camps
•Seek
durable Solutions.
Another
captivating topic was centered on: Accounting for the Missing and Dead in Armed
Conflicts by Makmid Kamara of Amnesty International.
He
emphasized on the LEGAL FRAMEWORKS AND RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS IN CRISES
SITUATIONS BY MAKING REFERENCE TO RELEVANT SECTIONS OF
CUSTOMARY
INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW which reads: “...With a view to the
identification of the dead, each party to the conflict must record all
available information prior to disposal and mark the location of the graves.”
Rule 116. Accounting for the Dead.
“...Each
party to the conflict must take all feasible measures to account for persons
reported missing as a result of armed conflict and must provide their family
members with any information it has on their fate.” Rule 117. Accounting for
Missing Persons.
The
amnesty boss concluded his presentation by suggesting the measures that would
help in forging ahead in the right direction as follow:
•States
must fulfil their obligations to conduct effective investigations regarding
missing persons.
•
Parties must notify the families of the dead, because they have the right to
know.
•Parties
to a conflict must facilitate enquiries about individuals missing as a result
of hostilities. The Fourth Geneva Convention in Article 32.
•
Efforts should be made to identify dead persons in order to preserve their
identity.
•Each
party to the conflict is required to search for persons who have been reported
missing by the adverse party.” Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions of
1977.
Also
on the list of speakers was Mr. Tony Ojukwu of the National Human Rights
Commission (NHRC) who spoke on the topic: STANDARDS FOR DETENTION IN SITUATION
OF ARMED CONFLICTS.
He
outlined the role and duties of the NHRC which according to him has been very
alive to their responsibilities. Although Mr. Ojukwu admitted that there have
reported cases of human rights abuses across board, he also blame most of the
victims on their unwillingness to speak out or corporate with designated
agencies for proper investigation and follow up of the case to a logical
conclusion.
On
the final day of the workshop, a number of resource persons and stakeholders
whose sole responsibility it is to carter for the IDPs took turn at the podium
to intimate the house on what their agencies, organizations and departments etc
have been doing to alleviate the monumental sufferings in various camps.
Amongst
such personalities include the Maiduguri NEMA Boss, Garba Abdullahi S.
He
provided a breakdown of the Agency's activities and their efforts in ensuring
that an appreciable level of success is achieved with the meager resources at
their disposal.
The
following(s) are some of the short and long term measures that he listed as
being the agency's areas of concentration:
1.
Beyond the provision of food and clothing; shelter, cooking utensils, and fuel
woods are made available.
2. NEMA provides support also to affected
persons outside the borders of Nigeria (ie Chad, Niger and Cameroon).
3.
Over 2,400 tons of relief materials, medications and other essential needs are
provided monthly to keep the affected persons going while at the camp.
He
listed other achievements so far recorded by the agency since the inception of
the insurgency crises in Nigeria especially in the North East, and acknowledged
the effort of the government, groups and individuals; but added that the
seemingly and widely reported incidents of hardship in various camps is because
the support is inadequate as a result of the huge number of IDPs and the
multi-faceted challenges... a similar view which was also expressed by his
colleague from Jos Zonal office, Abdulsalam B.Muhammed.
Muhammed
lamented on the state government's apathy and lack of political will to align
with the federal government in order to alleviate the excruciating sufferings
of the IDPs. According to him, this administrative highhandedness is perhaps,
the most critical factor why there have not been significant success and
improvement on the overall well-being of the victims.
At
the end of the presentations by all the speakers, the entire members were
divided into four groups to brainstorm on the issues raised and come up with
vital recommendations and map out strategies through which it would be
realised.
Everyone
agreed that the time to act is now, and that all hands must be on deck because
an injury to one is, and should be an injury to all. This, they said is the
surest way to safeguard the future of Nigeria.
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