CISLAC Convenes Policy Dialogue On Protection Of Civilian And Civilian Harm Mitigation In Armed Conflict

Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre(CISLAC) with support from Open Society Initiative For West Africa (OSIWA)  in PortHarcourt on Thursday May 20,2021 convened a one day policy dialogue on protection of civilian and civilian harm mitigation in armed conflict in South -South region of Nigeria
In her opening remarks Bertha  Ogbimi of CISLAC stressed the need for continuous dialogue and engagement of critical stakeholder  to  ensure protection of civilian as well as mitigating civilian harm during armed conflict in the region.
The Programme Manager of CISLAC  Salaudeen Hashim during his presentation  opined that the members of armed  forces  who are deployed to the conflict zone most times are faced with challenges such as poor welfare, inadequate training and logistics, and are most likely to vent their anger and frustration on civilians. 
The programme Manager of CISLAC urged members of the public and the  media to  push for advocacy for better welfare for members of the security agencies and  also report and publicize laudable humanitarian services  rendered by  security agencies during armed conflict .
Mr Hashim disclosed that members of the armed forces has basic rights that should be protected and promoted by the Government.
Highpoint of the events was division  of participants into working  groups to frame advocacy strategies on protection of civilians and civilian harm mitigation in the south-south .
The groups in their presentation proffered solution such as increased budgetary allocation to the security agencies, better welfare package ,insurance policy,adequate training on human rights,   legislation by the various House of Assembly seeking to establish human rights commission among others.
Representatives of Nigeria Police, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency,members of Civil Society Organizations,Religious and Traditional rulers,Director of National Orientation Agency in Rivers State as well as media practitioners were in attendance.