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CIVIL SOCIETY WATCH
With Jim Pressman,
Jpressman2001@yahoo.com
08091248286
Newsdiaryonline Sat Sep 10,2011
PRAWA Trains FCT Police Personnel On Human Rights
PRAWA,
a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) which promotes
institutional reforms in the formal and informal sectors for
access to justice, rehabilitation and social development for
prisoners, ex-prisoners, torture victims and youths-at-risk,
working with
Switzerland
Project
and in partnership with the Nigeria Police Force FCT,
has been running a series of training workshops for personnel of
the Nigeria Police Force.
The aim of the programme is to extend to the Police Service
PRAWA’s advocacy in promotion of “institutional reforms in the
formal and informal sectors, access to Human Rights and the
prevention of torture was slightly delayed by the inauguration
ceremony of Mr. President (Goodluck Jonathan) and the thirty six
(36) state governors on the 29th of May, 2011.
However the training was kick-started in essence with the
permission of the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Jimoh
Moshood, on the 14th of June, 2011.
The project team, made up of the Programme Coordinator Barr.
Mrs. Ijeoma Opara, the Programme Officer Anthony Agbor, Resource
Person Mrs. Kemi Okenyodo (Deputy Executive Director of CLEEN
Foundation) alongside other support staff, have ensured the
activities relating to the project are attended as scheduled
without much constraint.
Currently the following PRAWA–facilitated programmes have been
running as indicated:
1- Radio Drama Series: The Drama series “Just My Luck” is
usually on air every Monday by 9.05 pm- 9.20 pm (21.05-21.20
hours) via Kapital FM, a division of the Federal Radio
Cooperation of Nigeria (FRCN). Its network coverage extends
beyond the FCT to
Nasarawa,
Niger,
Kogi
and
Kaduna
states respectively. In effect, the Drama enjoys audience
participation from the listed states. So far six (6) episodes
have been aired; these include: Auntie Obodo Oyibo; Where is my
son; Maga don pay; S.U.G; Converted thief and Cover up.
The response to the quiz that succeeds every episode has been
tremendous and winners commend the prize attached to the quiz
and even send in comments conveying their gratitude.
2. The training session with Police officers began on the 14th
of June and Gwarinpa Divisional Police station was the first
beneficiary. Three additional divisions have been covered and
they include; Bwari, Utako and Kubwa. Karmo Division whose
training was earlier scheduled for 17th of June,
2011was re-scheduled to July 13th, 2011 as a result
of the bomb blast at the Police Force Headquarters (Louis Edet
House) on the 16th of June, 2011.
Generally, except for the slight drawbacks owing to situational
factors already mentioned, the ongoing sensitization programme
has enjoyed remarkable success so far and is definitely adding
value to society, particularly the Police Service.
Now, you may ask, what else is PRAWA teaching the policeman or
woman, a finished product as it were from the various official
Police Colleges and related institutions? A basic premise of the
Training Programme by PRAWA, is “to look at the linkages between
policing and human rights, working through: the concept of
policing; the concept of human rights; the relationship between
policing and human rights and the importance of human rights and
policing.
Knowing that one without knowledge of his or her past cannot
situate today properly nor make accurate projections into
tomorrow, the NGO ensures that the Resource Persons take the
trainees through: the History of the Nigeria Police Force from
Pre / Post Colonization, through Post-the Civil War, a look at
Section 214 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria which
provides for a single police force and prohibits the
establishment of any other police force in Nigeria, thereby
providing food for thought for police and the public they serve
on alternatives in the future (?) and a tolerable code of
behaviour in the present circumstances, no matter that they may
not be ideal.
MORE:
New NGO hails
President Jonathan’s
moves
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