Nigeria: UN experts to assess rehabilitation and reintegration of women and children freed from Boko Haram

GENEVA (13 January 2016) – Three United Nations human rights experts will visit Nigeria from 18 to 22 January 2016 to examine the measures to assist in the rehabilitation and reintegration of the women and children who escaped or were liberated from Boko Haram captivity.

“All measures taken or intended to be taken to ensure the right to care, recovery and reintegration of these women and children should comply with international human rights norms and standards,” said the UN Special Rapporteurs on sale of children, Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, on slavery, Urmila Boola, and on right to health, Dainus Pūras. 

“In that regard, we look forward to engaging with all parties and put our expertise at their disposal,” they noted. The three independent experts are mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to promote comprehensive strategies to prevent and protect the rights of women and children who were subjected to heinous forms of exploitation amounting to sale and slavery.

During their five-day visit, the experts will gather information on the various initiatives adopted by governmental, international and non-governmental actors to support these women and children to cope with immense suffering, trauma, stigma and possibly return to normality.

The Special Rapporteurs, who visit Nigeria at the invitation of the Government, will be meeting representatives from various Ministries, civil society and relevant UN agencies. They also are expected to visit detention centres.

At the end of their visit, the experts will share with the media their preliminary observations and recommendations at a press conference at the Hilton Transcorp Hotel, Abuja, on 22 January 2016 at 14h00.  Access to the press conference will be limited to journalists.

The Special Rapporteurs will present a report on this visit to the UN Human Rights Council in the course of 2016.

The Special Rapporteurs are part of the Special Procedures of Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization, and serve in their individual capacity.

Learn more, log in to:
Sale of children: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Children/Pages/ChildrenIndex.aspx
Slavery: http://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-slavery
Right to health: http://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-health

UN Human Rights, Country Page – Nigeria: http://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/nigeria

For more information and media requests, please contact:
In Nigeria (during the visit): Mr. Martin Ejidike (+234 8162720990) or Ms. Federica Donati (+41 79 444 4506)
In Geneva (during the visit): Ms. Nekane Lavin (+41 22 917 9402 / nlavin@ohchr.org)
In Geneva and Nigeria (before and after the visit): Mr. Martin Ejidike (martin.ejidike@one.un.org) and Ms. Federica Donati (+41.229179496 / fdonati@ohchr.org)

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)  

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