NHRC trains military officers on mainstreaming human rights in counter insurgency operations
From left-right: UNHCR Protection Officer, Hostencia Esua; Coordinator UNHCR/NHRC Project North East Benedict Agu; Major DC Shutts and NHRC Borno Coordinator Jummai Mshelia at a training on Mainstreaming Human Rights and Civilian protection in Maiduguri.
By Dauda Iliya
The Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission NHRC, Mr Tony Ojukwu says respecting human rights in counter insurgency operations will significantly reduce the humanitarian consequences of the conflict.
Mr Ojukwu stated this during a two-day training on mainstreaming human rights and civilian protection into counter insurgency operations in the North East, in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.
Represented by the Coordinator United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR and National Human Rights Commission monitoring project in the North East, Mr Benedict Agu, the Executive Secretary remarked that respecting principles of human rights will also reduce the casualty level and other protection challenges.
He explained that constant engagement with military officers who are constantly involved in the kinetic operations will sustain the gains so far achieved, noting that the asymmetric nature of the conflict has made it more complicated.
“There is therefore an extreme need to prosecute the insurgency operations to win the hearts and minds of the civilian population of Nigeria. This has underscored the importance of this training on mainstreaming principles of respect for human rights and civilian protection in the counter-insurgency operations ” Ojukwu said.
Protection Officer, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR, Maiduguri sub-office, Hostencia Esua said the mandate of the Agency is to support Governments and conflict affected communities deliver protection response.
She emphasized that the collaborative engagement between security agencies, Human Rights Commission and UNHCR will bring about solution to issues of displacement and protection of human rights.
“For our security personnel, you have been at the forefront to provide physical security as you are aware that the insurgencies in Nigeria gave birth to era of IDPs with needed protection by the government ” Esua remarked.
The UNHCR Officer said the project aims to reach IDPs and returnees through detention facility monitoring, human right case monitoring and referrals, awareness raising, advocacies and capacity building.
