On May 22, 2019, CIVIC’s Executive Director, Federico Borello, spoke with Laurie Laird of Crosby-Volmer for Arise TV about the conflict in Nigeria and the country’s proposed policy on Protection of Civilians and Civilian Harm Mitigation:

 

The conflict has already claimed more than 38,000 lives and increased activity by armed opposition groups – ISWAP and JAS – and an associated increase in the tempo of military operations mean that more civilians will suffer.

Momentum for this groundbreaking policy began in late 2016 after a high-level event at which the Nigerian Federal Government and the Armed Forces reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the protection of civilians in all security operations.

By 2018, many global leaders had praised the draft policy, including the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Nigerian Ministers of Information and Justice have both announced that the government would adopt the policy.

If approved, Nigeria would be the first country in Africa, and one of the few in the world, to adopt such a policy.

Learn more about our work in Nigeria.

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Author: Federico Borello

Federico the Executive Director of Center for Civilians in Conflict. He has more than 15 years of experience working on human rights and international justice issues, and previously served as Director of Investments at Humanity United where he managed the International Justice and the Democratic Republic of Congo portfolios. He has also worked with the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the International Center for Transitional Justice. Federico holds a law degree from the University of Milan, where he graduated magna cum laude. He also earned a Master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University in New York.