United Nations organizes workshop to prevent atrocity crimes in Nigeria

The United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention of the Responsibility to Protect in partnership with the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers have organized workshop to prevent atrocity crimes in Nigeria.

Penpushing reports that, the   two-day technical global consultation took place in Abuja with traditional leaders and actors from across five regions while at the end of the consultation  a draft Plan of Action for Traditional Leaders and Actors was made available.

The consultation was co-hosted by the Sultan of Sokoto His Eminence Sa’ad Abubakar Muhammadu III, Gbong Gwom of Jos His Majesty Da Jacob Gyang Buba and Obi of Onitsha His Royal Highness Nnaemeka Ugochukwu Achebe.

Penpushing reports that, the draft Plan of Action entails the commitments of traditional leaders and actors to prevent atrocity crimes, including but not limited to strengthen and support traditional dispute mechanisms, share alternative and counter-narratives for hate speech and incitement to violence, strengthen community dialogue and activities to support social cohesion, and support educational opportunities and skill building development.

The United Nations (UN) Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Ms. Alice Wairimu Nderitu in her remarks noted that traditional rulers play major roles in preventing atrocity crimes and appreciated their deep contextual knowledge and skills in traditional resolution.

“Traditional Leaders play a critical role in preventing atrocity crimes thanks to their deep contextual knowledge and skills in traditional dispute resolution.  Hence, we must engage these actors in atrocity prevention efforts at global, regional, national and local level” emphasized the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide’ Nderitu stated.

Penpushing further reports that, tthe Executive Director of the Network for Religious and Traditional Actors, Dr. Mohamed Elsanousi,explained that the network was committed to supporting traditional actors,as well as women and children in their critical   role through utilizing effective mechanism

“The Network is committed to supporting traditional actors, including women and youth in their critical role through utilizing effective mechanisms, such as peace mediation in situation at risk and atrocity crimes” stated the Executive Director of the Network for Religious and Traditional Actors’, Elsanousi said.

Penpushing also reports that, the meeting noted that proactive involvement and local ownership of traditional leaders as key stakeholders is critical in preventing atrocity crimes, while in same vein, as next the draft action will be presented to put the document in context and explore regional diversities.

‘ As next step, this draft Plan of Action will be presented and discussed in five regional consultations with traditional leaders and actors to put the document in context and explore regional diversities, expertise, and solutions.  Information from the global forum and the regional consultations will be then collated into the finalized Plan of Action’.

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