ASF France Trains Police Officers On Human Rights

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Avocats Sans Frontiéres/Lawyers without Borders France (ASF France), yesterday, trained officers of the Nigeria Police Complaint Response Unit (PCRU) on human rights.
This training was organised with the support of the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria through its Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives Funding for 2022/2023.
Speaking at the event, the National Human Rights Commission said the protection of human rights is more crucial in areas of law enforcement and military operations.
The executive secretary, NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, SAN, who spoke during the session on Wednesday noted that, “While acknowledging the important role of the Nigerian police as contemplated by the Police Act, it is important for the police to carry out its functions in compliance with human rights standards.
“Indeed, the Police Act confers on the police the responsibility of crime prevention, protection of lives and property, investigation and prosecution of suspects, amongst others. This capacity-building engagement is a response to periodic public outery against the police in various parts of the country, including the FCT, Abuja bordering on unlawful or prolonged detention without trial, excessive use of force, extra judicial killing, torture, inhuman and degrading treatment.”
He also said there is a need to emphasize that unless perpetrators of human rights violations are held accountable, impunity will thrive, adding that accountability for human rights violations are necessary conditions for prevention of further violations, conflict, violence, as well as realisation of peace and development.
He urged the beneficiaries to apply the knowledge and skills gained from the training in the course of their operations, and also tutor their other colleagues.
Last year, the organisation also trained some lawyers on human rights.
The programme, coordinated was coordinated by Avocats Sans Frontières France (ASF France), in collaboration with its local partners, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Carmelite Prisoners Interest Organisation and was implemented on the platform of the European Union by Agence Française de Development (AFD).