As part of measures to give new lease of life to the North East states ravaged by Boko Haram sect, three United Nations human rights experts arrived Nigeria on Monday for a five-day visit.
The visit will focus on assessment and evaluation of various measures employed by the Federal Government in the rehabilitation and reintegration of the women and children who escaped or were liberated from Boko Haram captivity.
The experts are expected to gather information on the various initiatives adopted by governmental, international and non-governmental actors to support these women and children to cope with the immense suffering, trauma and stigma, and possibly return to normality.
The UN special rapporteurs on sale of children, Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, on slavery, Urmila Boola, and on right to health, Dainus Pūras, said in a statement that: “All measures taken or intended to be taken to ensure the right to care, recovery and reintegration of these women and children should comply with international human rights norms and standards.
“In that regard, we look forward to engaging with all parties and put our expertise at their disposal.”
The experts’ visit may not be unconnected with various efforts of the Federal Government to enable indigenes of the ravaged North East states have a new lease of life, as it had earlier informed of plans to soon inaugurate a constituted committee headed by a frontline statesman, Theophillus Danjuma, to rehabilitate infrastructure and resettle internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the region.
Furthermore, the three independent experts are mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to promote comprehensive strategies towards prevention and protection of the rights of women and children who were subjected to heinous forms of exploitation amounting to sale and slavery.
The special rapporteurs, who are visiting at the invitation of the government, will be interacting with representatives from various ministries, civil society and relevant UN agencies. As part of the visit, the experts are expected to visit IDPs’ camps.
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