PSI urges FG to hasten domestication of conventions protecting IDPs
PSI urges FG to hasten domestication of conventions protecting IDPs
IDPs
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja. Oct. 29, 2019 (NAN) The Public Service International (PSI), has called on the Federal Government to ensure speedy passage and domestication of UN Conventions for the protection of rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the country.
PSI Regional Secretary for Africa and Arab Region, Mr Sani Baba, made the call in Abuja on Tuesday, during a walk organised as part of the National Day in commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the Kampala convention.
The two-day event is organised by the PSI and the National Commission For Refugees, Migration and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFMRI).
He explained that the walk, which kicked off at the Federal Secretariat to millennium park in Abuja, was to sensitise the public on plight of IDPs and the need to protect their rights.
Baba said IDPs in the country, like other citizens have rights to basic healthcare, education and public services, expressing concerns that majority of IDP camps lack facilities to allow displaced persons enjoy quality access to public services.
“If you go to the IDP camps, most of them are finding it really hard to survive. Most of them are used to farming and now they do not have sufficient land to farm, even when they want to buy, they don’t get it.
“If you go to the camps, they don’t have access to health facilities, electricity. Even the place they stay is not healthy for them and their children. And most importantly, education. If you go to some of these camps, the education facilities are nothing to write home about.
“So, the legal framework, will actually give the IDPs themselves the right to engage the government and even the local communities so that they can have access to all these things.
He, therefore, urged the National Assembly to ensure quick passage of the legal frameworks that ensure protection of IDPs to enable them enjoy basic needs.
Also speaking, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of IDPs, Ms. Cecilia Jimenez-Damary, said although Nigeria was doing its best for IDPs, much still needed to be done.
She stressed the need for displaced persons themselves to be encouraged to take part in projects that affect them.
“My advocacy worldwide is to encourage the participation of IDPs in decisions that affects them,” she said.
In his remarks, the Federal Commissioner, NCFRMI, Senator Garba Mohammed, said the Commission was delighted to enhance the resilience of the IDPs, noting that efforts were on to reduce factors fueling humanitarian crises.
According to him, the Federal Government and our partners are working hard to find durable solutions to Internal Displacement within the country.
“The Commission is working with security agencies and other relevant authorities to put a stop to known causes of internal displacement in the country,” he assured.
Mohammed said the Commission was committed not only to provide support for displaced persons, but to also ensure that the IDPs population do not increase in the country. (NAN)
TAK/AFA
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Edited by Felix Ajide