Headfort Foundation for Justice in partnership with Justice Peace and Development Center (Holy Family Catholic Church, Festac) on Tuesday, Oct. 15 held a capacity building workshop for the Heads of Human Rights Department of Area H, Command, Nigeria Police Force in Lagos.
Newsmen reports that the theme of the workshop is: “Upholding Human Rights During Duty Delivery.”
The Executive Director of the foundation, Mrs Oluyomi Orija, said that the workshop is aimed at strengthening the knowledge and practices of human rights principles within the Nigeria Police Force.
Orija emphasized the importance of the protection of peoples rights by the Police in the execution of their duties.
According to her, the training marks a significant step forward in the continuous effort to transform the Nigeria Police Force into a more humane and rights-oriented institution.
“By equipping officers with the right tools and knowledge, we are building a future where respect for human rights becomes the standard in duty delivery across the nation,” Orija said.
The Lead Facilitator of the workshop, Ene Sarah Unobe Esq, Executive Director of International Center for Human Rights, Nonviolence and Safety Awareness spoke on “Community Policing and Human Rights” and addressed both the theoretical and practical aspects of human rights protection.
She underscored the need to integrate human rights principles as a fundamental part of the Nigeria Police Force’s operations.
“It is imperative that human rights become a fundamental part of police work.
“Our goal is to ensure that law enforcement officers are not just enforcers of the law but also protectors of the fundamental rights of every citizen,” Ene said.
Participants at the workshop shared their challenges in the line of duty during an open forum.
They identified systemic constraints, lack of adequate training and resources required to uphold human rights standards effectively, as some of the challenges.
The workshop allowed for a constructive dialogue on possible strategies and solutions to overcome these obstacles while emphasizing the importance of reinforcing the culture of human r;ights in every facet of police work.
During the discussions, participants agreed on the critical need to embed human rights as a core element of the Nigeria Police Force’s operations.
Headfort Foundation for Justice believe that by prioritizing human rights, law enforcement officers can ensure fair and just practices that align with both national and international human rights standards.
The training also highlighted the necessity of continuous capacity-building initiatives to equip officers with the skills and knowledge to protect citizens’ rights while maintaining law and order.
The foundation noted that as part of the outcome of the workshop, the trained officers are empowered to go back to their respective divisions and impart the knowledge to over 500 police officers under their command.
It added that the cascading approach is aimed at creating a broader impact across the force, ensuring that human rights principles become a core part of police training and operations at all levels.
Headfort Foundation for Justice is dedicated to promoting human rights and social justice through training, advocacy, and grassroots initiatives.
The goal of the foundation is to build a society where the rights of every individual are protected, respected, and upheld.
