TheCable

Musa Nuhu, Nigeria’s permanent representative to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), says COVID-19 exposed the flaws of the international community in relation to human rights issues.

Nuhu said this on Wednesday at the opening ceremony of a capacity building workshop and the establishment of ECOWAS protection and human security integrated coordination mechanisms in Nigeria. 

The three-day workshop focuses on counter-trafficking, child rights, protection and child labour, emergency protection which covers refugees and IDPs, mixed-migration and international humanitarian law programmes.

Nuhu, represented by Victor Makwe, said: “Without doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the flaws of the current international order or world system, and the West African region is not spared of its negative effects.

“Hence, it is imperative that this meeting addresses all-encompassing thematic, ranging from issues relating to counter human trafficking, child rights protection, child labour prevention, violence against children, women and girls, protection of people in emergency situations, including refugees and IDPs, amongst others.”

To curb the human rights challenges, he said the root causes must be identified and addressed with a lasting solution.

“It is my view that without a clear and coordinated plan of action, achieving our goals will be far-fetched. Therefore, the needed approach must be people-centred, comprehensive, context-specific and contain prevention-oriented responses with potential to strengthen the protection and empowerment of all Nigerians,” he said.

He called on participants and development partners of ECOWAS to promote and mainstream the protection of human security.