ABUJA - Mr. Michael Aondoakaa, the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, has urged ECOWAS to intensify the propagation of peace and security within the sub-region.
He made the call in Abuja at a seminar on the implementation of International Humanitarian Law Treaties organised by ECOWAS and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Aondoakaa said every responsible organisation should strive to promote peace among its members.
The theme of the seminar is: “Even War Has Limits’’.
The minister, who was represented by Mrs. Mercy Agbamuche, Director, International and Comparative Law Department in the ministry, said it behooved on ECOWAS to maintain peace and security in West Africa .
He said while ECOWAS was promoting economic integration and trans-national development, it should not lose sight of its main responsibility of ensuring peace and security in the sub-region.
“States need to cooperate in order to identify and adopt an acceptable plan of action to combat war, and reduce its effects on the populace, to allow for sustainable development,’’ he said.
Mr. Jacques Villatez, Head of Delegation, ICRC, said in spite of the human rights and refugee laws, war victims had continued to receive insufficient protection.
He said it was imperative for such laws to be respected at all times, to help those in difficulty.
Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, President of the ECOWAS Commission, said the seminar was expected to produce recommendations, which would be forwarded to the commission for further action.
He said the seminar would also deal with issues of Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons as well as the Protocol on the Right of the Child in Armed Conflicts.
Chambas noted that the ratification and implementation of the conventions would eliminate negative issues associated with the proliferation of arms and Child Soldiers in armed conflicts.
“This in turn, will engender proper development of the child, eliminate small arms and light weapons, which fuel crisis in the sub-region.
“It will also create an enabling environment for economic growth and development in the sub-region,” he said.
|
