March 07, (THEWILL) – The National Human Rights Commission has begun gathering data on human rights violations and abuses affecting Internally Displaced Persons and refugees across four states in Nigeria’s North-East region.
The exercise, according to the NHRC, focuses on documenting cases of gender-based violence, sexual exploitation and abuse, restrictions on movement, family and social cohesion challenges, as well as psychosocial issues.
The commission aims to use the data to improve protection services for displaced persons whose rights have been violated.
Speaking at the opening of a two-day training session for its staff and volunteer groups in Maiduguri, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, said the initiative is being carried out in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
The training, themed “Guidelines for a Human Rights-Based Approach to Protection Referral for Forcibly Displaced Persons (FDPs), Asylum Seekers, Refugees, and Returnees,” is designed to enhance the capacity of community protection action groups on data collection and collation.
Ojukwu, who was represented by the commission’s Head of Monitoring, Mr. Okay Agu Benedict, noted that while preliminary assessments indicate widespread rights violations, the NHRC is working to establish the extent of these abuses.
“What we know for now is that our needs assessment has shown that violations are taking place due to the vulnerable circumstances these people find themselves in. As we proceed, we will be able to provide more specific details,” he said.
The NHRC boss stressed the importance of accurate data collection in developing effective policies and interventions for IDPs, refugees, asylum seekers, and returnees.
“For our country to formulate any meaningful development plan for displaced persons, we must have reliable data on the violations and abuses they face,” he added.
Ojukwu further revealed that an initial assessment by the NHRC confirmed cases of rights violations in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, and Taraba states, necessitating the current effort to document and address these issues.
A total of 54 participants, drawn from the four states, are being trained in data collection methodologies focused on human rights violations, particularly in cases of gender-based violence, sexual exploitation and abuse, movement restrictions, family and social cohesion challenges, and psychosocial concerns.
The NHRC reiterated its commitment to strengthening protection mechanisms for displaced persons and ensuring their rights are upheld.
