NGOs Harp On Protection, Safety Of Vulnerable Groups In Borno

April 5, (THEWILL)- The Centre for Civilians In Conflict has organised a community-driven advocacy campaign in Konduga and Monguno Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Borno State aimed at building the resilience and social cohesion of the vulnerable in the state.

The two-day advocacy campaign, organised in collaboration with the Community Protection Committee (CPC), is to facilitate purposeful decision-making by IDPs, returnees and all other classes of vulnerable to facilitate their protection and safety in situations of violent conflict.

“This advocacy campaign underscores our unwavering dedication to ensuring that policies, programmes, and interventions are designed with the utmost consideration for civilian lives and dignity,” Saratu Joshua Pindar, Team Lead at CIVIC stated.

The two organising NGOs, she said, advocated for the formulation and implementation of policies at local and national levels that prioritise civilian protection and integrate civilian harm mitigation measures into security and development agendas.

“We believe in the enhancement of existing programmes and initiatives to better address the unique protection needs of vulnerable populations, including women, children, and internally displaced persons.

“We, therefore, call on local communities to actively participate in decision-making processes related to civilian protection and encourage community-led initiatives to promote safety, resilience, and social cohesion,” Saratu noted.

Godwin Emmanuel, CPC Community Liaison for Monguno, emphasised that “civilian protection is not just a moral imperative; it is a strategic imperative for sustainable peace and stability.”

He announced that the Centre for Civilians in Conflict is planning to organise a series of roundtable discussions, policy dialogues, and community forums as part of future advocacy campaigns to facilitate constructive dialogue and knowledge sharing among diverse stakeholders.

Godwin said future advocacy campaigns would leverage digital media platforms and grassroots mobilisation efforts to amplify CIVIC’s message and engage a broader audience.

This, he added, would ensure an increase in the momentum and commitment toward enhancing civilian protection and civilian harm mitigation, not just in Monguno and Konduga LGAs, but in Borno State and the country in general.

The campaign targeted stakeholders, including Nigerian security agencies, NGOs, and LGA authorities to advocate for the development of policies, programmes, and interventions that prioritise civilian protection.