The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is to ensure regular visits to detention centres in North East to ensure their compliance with human rights standards.
The Executive Secretary of the commission, Mr Tony Ojukwu, made this known in Yola, at a three-day training workshop of Human Right Monitors on Effective Monitoring and Documentation.
The workshop is organised by NHRC in collaboration with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Ojukwu said renewed attacks in North East has made it more imperative than ever before to deal with emerging human rights concerns emanating from continuous attacks by the insurgents/terrorists and counter insurgency operations in the sub-region.
Ojukwu said the focus of this year’s project would among other things center on regular visits to detention centers to ensure their compliance with human rights standards.
While urging monitors to ensure that violations that are hitherto unnoticed and underreported were brought to fore for possible redress, Ojukwu stressed the need on sensitization of stakeholders on decriminalization of petty offences, with a view to promote the rights to access to justice of the Population of Concern.
In her remarks, the Head of Field Office UNHCR, Yola, Ms Eliane Amoussou, said human rights being one of the pillars of the United Nations made it vital to have human rights monitors on the front line of combating abuses and promoting respect for human rights.
Amoussou, called on relevant stakeholders to partner with the monitors in addressing human rights violations, adding that report documented from fieldwork is important in seeking accountability for human abuses and justice for victims.
According to her, the report would serve as a foundation for advocating for policies and programmes that promote and protect human rights.
Many participants who spoke at the training lauded the NHRC and UNHCR for providing the opportunity for capacity building which they said would empower them to deliver on their schedules effectively.
Participants are human rights monitors from Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.
