By Ahmed Ahmed
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has launched a two-day capacity-building programme aimed at strengthening human rights protection for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Forcibly Displaced Persons (FDPs) through crowd-sourcing mechanisms in Borno State.
The training brought together representatives of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Community Protection Action Groups (CPAGs), and Human Rights Monitors from Adamawa State.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Executive Secretary of NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, said the initiative was designed to equip stakeholders with practical skills for gathering, verifying, documenting and securely transmitting information on human rights violations and protection concerns affecting displaced persons and host communities.
Ojukwu explained that the programme forms part of the 2026 NHRC-UNHCR project aimed at strengthening early warning and rapid response systems through timely reporting of security threats, displacement movements and humanitarian protection issues.
He noted that prolonged insecurity and conflict have continued to expose displaced populations to challenges such as sexual and gender-based violence, inadequate access to healthcare, education, shelter, justice and other fundamental rights.
According to him, participants will receive training on ethical information gathering, confidentiality, verification procedures and the use of digital reporting tools to improve response mechanisms.
“The goal is to strengthen reporting channels and ensure information reaches responders quickly. Timely reporting and intervention can save lives and reduce suffering among vulnerable populations,” he said.
Also speaking, UNHCR Assistant Protection Officer in Maiduguri, Mr. Daniel Bisu, urged participants to promptly report human rights violations to enable victims access legal, medical and psychosocial support.
In her remarks, Mrs. Habiba Ghana of the Borno State Ministry of Justice described the training as timely and urged participants to apply the knowledge gained to enhance human rights protection within their communities.
