By Muhammad Muntazar
A distinguished professor of law, Professor Muhammed Tawfiq Ladan Ladan, has highlighted key areas of progress made by Nigeria in complying with its international humanitarian treaty obligations in civilian protection.
Speaking in a meeting today on “The Rome Statute 1949 Geneva Conventions and Their Additional Protocols – Nigeria’s Obligations and Scorecard”, chaired by the Attorney General of the federation and minister of Justice with facilitation from the Solicitor General of the federation, Prof. Ladan noted that Nigeria has put in place policies, plans, and intervention programmes to investigate and prosecute alleged violations of human rights, particularly gender-based violence against women and children during counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations.
The professor commended the Nigerian government for its efforts in monitoring alleged violations of human rights. He, however, identified areas that require improvement, emphasizing the need for more concrete actions to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law.
Prof. Ladan urged the Nigerian government to fast-track the domestication and implementation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. This, he said, would ensure that Nigeria meets its treaty obligations on respect for human rights.
To achieve this, Prof. Ladan recommended that the government resubmit a bill to the National Assembly. The bill seeks to domesticate the Consolidated Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols as part of Nigerian law.
This move, according to Prof. Ladan, would ensure compliance with Nigeria’s treaty obligations on respect for human rights of civilians, detainees, and children. It would also strengthen the country’s commitment to protecting human rights.
The professor’s recommendations are crucial in ensuring that Nigeria’s laws align with international humanitarian law. This would help to protect civilians and detainees from human rights abuses.
Prof. Ladan’s call for the domestication of the Rome Statute and the Consolidated Geneva Conventions is a step in the right direction. It would demonstrate Nigeria’s commitment to upholding human rights and the rule of law.
The Nigerian government has been working to strengthen its laws and institutions to protect human rights. Prof. Ladan’s recommendations would further enhance these efforts.
By implementing these measures, Nigeria can demonstrate its commitment to protecting civilians and upholding human rights. This would be a significant step towards ensuring that the country’s laws and practices align with international humanitarian law.
Prof. Ladan’s recommendations are a valuable contribution to the ongoing efforts to strengthen human rights protection in Nigeria. His suggestions would help to ensure that Nigeria meets its international obligations and protects the rights of its citizens.
The event drew a diverse group of over 100 participants from key stakeholders, including the Ministries of Justice, Defence, Interior, and Foreign Affairs. Other attendees included representatives from the National Human Rights Commission, academia, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). This broad participation ensured a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach to the issues at hand.