The National Human Rights Commission in Nigeria has called on governments at all levels and other stakeholders to ensure inclusiveness and non-discrimination of vulnerable people in the society like Refugees, Migrants, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and others.
The Commission’s Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, in a statement by the Deputy Director Public Affairs of the agency, Fatimah Agwai Mohammed made the call in Abuja, the nation’s capital over the weekend in commemoration of the 2021 World Refugees Day, WRD.
According to the statement, 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.
Citing UNHCR “Statistics of 3.2 million people presently displaced in Nigeria, the Executive Secretary said that 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,“ he said
The Chief Human Rights Officer noted that this year’s theme of WRD, “Together we heal, learn and shine” serves as a reminder to the government and other stakeholders of the need for inclusive and non-discriminatory strategies and to redouble efforts towards the protection and enforcement of the rights of refugees, IDPs, migrants, returnees and other persons in dare need of humanitarian support.
“Towards this end, I urge the relevant stakeholders including MDAs such as the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA) and others to work assiduously with the ICRC, IOM, and Civil Society Organisations to tackle issues around refugees, asylum seekers and other related humanitarian concerns in Nigeria,“ the Executive Secretary echoed.
Mr Ojukwu further said that “As far as the relevant international Conventions like ICCPR and 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, saying that respecting these Conventions is the only way to boost social protection and collectively reap the fruits of inclusiveness and non-discrimination.“
He used the opportunity to inform Nigerians once more that 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 realize their rights.
The WRD is celebrated globally on the 20th of June every year to draw the attention of government, development partners and stakeholders to the plight of Refugees and the need to redress their conditions.
PIAK
