Human Rights Violation: “Lawyers Without Borders” Trains Kaduna Journalists, CSOs on Monitoring, Reporting
By Victor Habila, Kaduna
Avocats Sans Frontieres (ASF) France, on commenced a 2-day capacity building workshop for media practitioners and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Kaduna on human rights monitoring, documentation and reporting.
The workshop which was in collaboration with Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Carmelite Prisoners’ Interest Organization (CAPIO) is a European Union supported SAFE (Strengthening the National Actors Capacities and Advocating For Ending Serious Human Rights Violations in Nigeria) project.
In her remark, Head of Nigeria Office, ASF France, Mrs Angela Uwandu said that the basic objective of the training is to provide CSOs and journalists with the fact-finding methodology which is needed to hold perpetrators accountable
Mrs. Uwandu, added that the knowledge they will acquire from the training will help them to better engage relevant stakeholders in order to participate in the advocacy efforts for the promotion of respect for human rights by security agencies.
She explained that ASF France, also known as “Lawyers Without Borders” aims at providing and protecting fundamental human rights of citizens in the society, hence the need to involve the media and CSOs in fighting against the violation of human rights by some perpetrators.
According to her, the workshop would give participants a broader view on the principles of human rights.
She however urged the Journalists to put out more reports on human rights violation to demand for justice for affected citizens.
On his part part, the representative of CAPIO, Mr Michael Ukwumu said the organization aims at ensuring that the fundamental rights of inmates in prisons are not violated, saying they ensure that unlawful torturing and detention of victims are not carried out by security agencies especially the Nigerian Police Force.
The Chairman of NUJ Kaduna chapter, represented by Mr Minat Joseph, expressed gratitude to the NGOs for bringing such program to the state.
He said NUJ doors are always open to partnership with ASF France and other CSOs to help fight against human rights violation in Kaduna state and Nigeria at large.
There were various representatives from Nigerian Bar Association, CSOs and different media organizations such as TVC News, NewsWeb Express, NTA, AIT, Liberty TV, KSMC, among others.
Some of the critical areas that was focused on include; torturing, ill treatment and extra judicial killings.
