UN Special Rapporteur Maria Giammarinaro will assess the issue of trafficking in persons in Nigeria, during an official visit to the country from Monday to Sept. 10.
The new UN human rights expert would travel to Abuja, Lagos and Benin City during the three-day official visit.
“My visit is an opportunity to meet with relevant stakeholders to discuss various forms and manifestations of trafficking in persons and key human rights concerns and challenges, as well as progress made, in addressing trafficking in persons for the purpose of sexual, labour or any other form of exploitation.
“Particular attention will be paid to key issues and challenges in the implementation of international and legal frameworks on trafficking in persons, especially women and children.
“During the visit, we will also examine measures taken or to be taken in terms of prevention of trafficking in persons, identification and protection of victims, prosecution and punishment of perpetrators as well as access to justice and social inclusion for survivors,” she said.
Giammarinaro would meet representatives of Government agencies, as well as UN officials and members of civil society organizations.
Of particular importance would be her meeting with those civil society organizations working in the field of trafficking prevention and victim support, during her visit.
The Special Rapporteur would hold a news conference to share her preliminary observations with the media at 12 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 10 at the Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
Access to the news conference would be strictly limited to journalists.
Findings and recommendations from her visit to Nigeria would be included in an official report to be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2019 at Geneva.
UNMIL said the last remaining 108 Nigerian FPU officers, the last UNMIL uniformed contingent remaining in Liberia, withdrew as part of the UN mission’s termination after five years following the conclusion of their mission.
The batch of 200 Nigerian peacekeepers had also withdrawn from Liberia in February as part of the termination of the mission’s mandate, scheduled on March 30, the mission said.
“The Nigerian contingent has been deployed in Liberia since UNMIL was first established in 2003. Nigeria has been a main contributor of military and police to UNMIL.
“The UNMIL has been a steadfast partner to Liberia for the last 15 years.
“It has supported security and security sector reform, rule of law, efforts to disarm, human rights and sustainable peace.
“The Mission will complete its mandate on March 30.
“UNMIL was established in Septe
An official farewell ceremony was held in February in honour of the last departing 689 uniformed personnel – 404 military and 285 police personnel – who had served with the Mission.
This symbolised the end of UNMIL’s military and police operations in Liberia, more than 14 years after UNMIL was deployed in compliance with Security Council resolution 1509 (2003).
Remember 2003 with 16,475 uniformed personnel to monitor a ceasefire agreement in
Liberia, following the conclusion of the Second Liberian Civil War”.
Nigeria’s Maj.-Gen. Salihu Uba is the Force Commander and Head of UNMIL’s Military component of men and women from various countries including: Nigeria, Pakistan and Ukraine.
Uba was Commander of the Training and Doctrine Command of the Nigerian Army before his appointment as the Force Commander for UNMIL by the former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Jan. 9, 2015.
The Formed Police Unit composed of Nigerian and Chinese personnel and since 2003, 61 contingents from various countries had served in Liberia, UNMIL said.
According to Uba, the mission’s uniform component military and police have taken greater stride towards strengthening peace and security, rule of law, governance among others in Liberia.
The Force Commander stated that it was not all roses particularly for the military which had the highest fatalities of 138 personnel while the police lost 21 persons.
“As we are closing, the memory of those 159 persons and others in the Mission will continue to live in our minds.
“We will continue to pay special tribute to them and those who contributed to peace and security in Liberia” the Major General said.
The Force Commander, on behalf of the Police Commissioner Simon Blatchly, expressed their profound appreciation to the uniformed component of UNSMIL.
The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Farid Zarif, had in his speech, stated that the farewell signified an important benchmark in the history of the UN in West Africa.
“While my colleagues in uniform are writing the last pages of the peacekeeping operations here, Liberians and their Leaders have started writing the first pages of a brand new chapter in their history.”
Liberian President George Weah commended UNMIL for its longstanding support to peace and stability, saying the Liberian people will forever remain grateful to them for their bravery and service.
Weah said: “Thank you for your hard work and sacrifice you have made over the years to keep the peace and stability of our beloved mama Liberia. As you leave us now, we will forever remember you”.
The United Nations has finally reacted to alleged slave trade in Libya which has sparked backlash across the world.
The United Nations Security Council condemned reports of the human slave trade in Libya on Thursday, describing the acts as “heinous abuses of human rights.”
Amb. Koro Bessho of Japan, Council President for the 15-member body in a statement said “The Security Council expresses grave concern about reports of migrants being sold into slavery in Libya,”
“The Security Council condemns such actions as heinous abuses of human rights which may also amount to crimes against humanity. The Security Council calls upon all relevant authorities to investigate such activities without delay to bring the perpetrators to justice and hold those responsible to account.
“The Security Council further underlines the need for coordination of efforts to tackle the root causes of large movements of people, including forced displacement, unmanaged migration and trafficking in persons, in a comprehensive and holistic manner, to prevent exploitation of refugees and migrants by smugglers and human traffickers, as well as for implementation of the 2030 agenda.”
The statement, read by Japanese Ambassador to the UN Koro Bessho, comes weeks after undercover CNN reported auction outside Libya’s capital of Tripoli, which spurred reactions in Africa and in Europe, and led to protests outside the Libyan Embassy in Paris.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres horrified by the reports called for justice, describing the reports as appalling
“I abhor these appalling acts and call upon all competent authorities to investigate these activities without delay and to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“I have asked the relevant United Nations actors to actively pursue this matter,” Guterres said.
According to a United Nations report launched recently, Nigeria’s population, which is currently the 7th largest in the world, is expected to surpass the United State’s to become the 3rd largest by 2050.
With 83 million people added to the world’s population every year, Nigeria’s population is the fastest growing among the 10 most populous countries in the world.
According to the report, which is titled 2017 Revision of World Population Prospects, the world population is expected to rise to 9.8 billion by 2050.
Half of the world’s population is expected to be concentrated in just nine countries: India, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pakistan, Ethiopia, the United Republic of Tanzania, the United States of America, Uganda and Indonesia.
This growth is due in part to Africa having the youngest age distribution of any region, and is projected to experience a rapid ageing of its population.
Life expectancy in developing nations, which is another reason for the growth, has also risen by 6.6 years between 2000-2005 and 2010-2015 after rising by less than 2 years over the previous decade.
Ms Amina Mohammed, the immediate past Minister of Environment, has today been sworn-in as the fifth Deputy Secretary-General of the UN at the UN Headquarters in New York.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres administered the oath of office to Mohammed, reports NAN.
“I want to say that I am extremely, very, very proud that you accepted to join our team. Thank you very much,” Guterres told Mohammed.
In accepting the appointment, Mohammed had said she was humbled at the opportunity to serve humanity.
“I am most grateful for the confidence and trust demonstrated by the United Nations Secretary-General-designate António Guterres and President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The next phase of my continued service to the people of Nigeria at the global level, will certainly build on the rich insights and lessons drawn from engaging with leaders, colleagues and stakeholders across our beloved nation”, She said.
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