Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Following public complaints over brutality by the police and other security agencies, youths in Anambra State, have received training and mentoring on the methods for tracking and defending incidences of human rights violations and abuse in the state.
The training held Saturday in Awka, the state capital.
It was organized by the Centre for Social Awareness, Advocacy and
Ethics (CSAAE) in collaboration with the Youth Empowerment Solutions Project Initiative (YES-P); and the Centre for Health Education & Vulnerable Support (CHEVS) and powered by VOICE.
The trainees were drawn from the 21 Local Government Areas of the state and exposed to the citizenship rights to obtaining justice, and where their fundamental human rights or rights of the people are trampled upon by law enforcement agents.
Speaking at the event, the CSAAE Founder/ CEO, Rev. Dr. Godswill Agbagwa said “the project was inspired by the sequence of the EndSARS protest when people went to the street to demand good governance, accountability and resistance to inhumane e treatment by police personnel.
“It is to build the capacity of 21 young people in the state. We trained them on what they need to understand about human rights and how to defend rights before the law. We are trying to harness the positive part of them as young people to work with the security agencies whose job are to ensure that our society is safe.”
Agbagwa, represented by the Programme Manager, Davidson Nwaonu, said “CSAAE fights for good governance, rule of law, human rights and anti-corruption; advances quality education, entrepreneurship and job placement; promotes effective leadership and trains effective leaders.
He urged the young people to take what they have learnt in the training to their respective communities for onward propagation to the people in different localities on their rights to justice.
Speakers at the event included the Commissioner of Police, Mr Echeng Echeng represented by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga; and the Anambra State Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice, Chika Ifemeje represented by Solicitor General of the State cum Permanent Secretary Ministry of Justice, Barr. Ngozi Anuli Iwouno.
Others were the Commissioner for Youth, Mr. Patrick Aghambah, represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Development, Dr. Nelson Omenuha; Director National Orientation Agency, Anambra State, Charles Nwoji; and a representative of the Citizens Rights Directorate, Awka, Judith C. Mokwe, among other human rights lawyers and activists.
They taught the youths their rights as enshrined in the law, ways to collaborate with the police and what to do especially how to avoid fracas when accosted by policemen.
