Judiciary
THE National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called for urgent action to protect refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and others.
Mr Tony Ojukwu, Executive Secretary, NHRC made the call in a statement signed by Mrs Fatimah Agwai- Mohammed, Deputy Director Public Affairs of the Commission to commemorate the World Refugee Day.
The day is celebrated globally every June 20, to draw attention of government, development partners and stakeholders to the plight of Refugees and the need to redress their conditions.
“As Nigeria joins the rest of the international community to celebrate the 2021 World Refugees Day, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is calling on the governments at all levels and other duty bearers to give more attention to Refugees.
” Also, IDPs, Returnees, Migrants and other persons in vulnerable situations to pave the way for inclusiveness and nondiscrimination.
” Refugees and related human rights and humanitarian issues have escalated in recent times in Nigeria, thereby exposing the victims to the harsh economic realities and poverty amidst high morbidity and mortality in the country” he stated.
Ojukwu said that the the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, farmer/herders clashes, banditry, unknown gunmen and kidnappings across the nation have unfortunately worsened the humanitarian situation in Nigeria.
The commission also urged relevant stakeholders including the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA) etc to work more assiduously with the Civil Society Organisations and others to tack.
He added that as far as the relevant international Conventions like International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), etc are concerned, every human being irrespective of his/her citizenship or geographical boundaries is entitled to social protection in and outside the person’s country of origin.
” Respecting these Conventions is the only way to boost social protection and collectively reap the the fruits of inclusiveness and non-discrimination.
” The commission with the collaboration of UNHCR and other development partners has progressively and successfully assisted thousands of refugees and IDPs and other categories of persons in need of social protection across the country to realise their rights.
“The commission also monitored the human rights situation of the IDPs in the NorthEast as well as trained military personnel, the Police and other law enforcement personnel on mainstreaming human rights principles in their operations and in providing security to IDP camps” Ojukwu said.
He added that, this has improved the human rights and humanitarian situation in the affected areas. (NAN)
– June 21, 2021 @ 14:20 GMT |
Tags: IDPs migrants NHRC calls for urgent action to protect refugee
