IANSA Women Network Nigeria Holds Preparatory Meeting For Oslo Political Declaration Conference On Explosive Weapons In Populated Areas

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The International Action Network on Small Arms, Women Network Nigeria (IANSA Women Network Nigeria), have held a preparatory meeting ahead of the first international follow-up conference to review implementation of the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas. The conference will be the first follow-up since the high-level international conference in Dublin on 18th November 2022, which saw the Declaration formally adopted by 83 states.

 

IANSA Women Network Nigeria together with representatives of the Irish and Norway Embassies in Abuja, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), Office of the National Security Adviser and members of the Civil Society Organizations and private sectors, came together and brainstorm on ways to secure the political will of the Nigerian Government to ensure active participation in the Oslo Conference and to endorse the Political Declaration as a signal of support for strengthening the protection of civilians in armed conflicts.

The Preparatory Meeting was supported by the International Network on Explosive Weapons (INEW).

After extensive brainstorming and deliberations, the following communique was arrived at by the participants at the meeting;

  1. Advocacy should be made to the Nigerian Parliament for the International Humanitarian Laws (IHLs) to be domesticated in Nigeria.
  2. National Security Services should be diversified to the other ‘War- torn’ areas/ regions of the country.
  3. Nigeria should draw lessons from the ‘Civil War/Biafran’ war in mapping up landmines.
  4. Contextualization and Gender Mainstreaming in ‘explosive weapons declaration’ as the human impact is more on women and children and the elderly as well as disabled population
  5. Advocacy should be amplified for Nigeria to endorse, enforce and create adequate awareness about Explosive Weapons Declaration.
  6. The need for adequate trauma management for Victims of Explosive Weapons and armed conflictsAmplify advocacy awareness by CSOs, government agencies.
  7. Government should enhance the training of the military personnel on responsible use of weapons of ‘mass- destruction.
  8. There should be wider consultation, dialogue and engagement of stakeholders from the Security, Legislature, Judiciary and the Civil Society.