Despite advances by the
military, attacks by Boko Haram in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger have
claimed the lives of at least 1,600 people since the start of June, bringing
the death toll to at least 3,500 civilians in 2015 alone, said Amnesty International
as the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) discusses a UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights’ report on the conflict.
“The number of people killed so
far this year is truly shocking with more than 3,500 civilian fatalities in
less than 300 days,” said Netsanet Belay, Amnesty International’s Africa
Director for Research and Advocacy.
“Governments in affected
countries must take all necessary legal measures to ensure the security of
civilians in affected areas.”
Today, as the UNHRC discusses
violations and abuses committed in the context of the conflict, Amnesty
International is renewing its call for adequate protection of civilians from
Boko Haram attacks.
The number of people killed so
far this year is truly shocking with more than 3,500 civilian fatalities in
less than 300 days.
Amnesty International is also
calling for urgent and thorough investigations of serious human rights
violations committed by their security forces. Following the publication of an
Amnesty International report on 3 June President Buhari pledged to investigate
evidence that Nigerian military forces have committed serious human rights
violations, war crimes and acts which may constitute crimes against humanity.
To date, no investigation has begun.
“It is nearly four months to
the day since President Buhari vowed to investigate the serious crimes under
international law which Amnesty International highlighted in its report,” said
Netsanet Belay.
“Thousands of victims are still
waiting for justice. President Buhari and his new cabinet must take urgent
action to rigorously investigate all crimes under international law committed
by both Boko Haram and Nigerian security forces.”
It is nearly four months to the
day since President Buhari vowed to investigate the serious crimes under
international law which Amnesty International highlighted in its report.
Similarly, in Cameroon crimes
under international law and human rights violations have been committed by both
Boko Haram and the state security forces. Such crimes have not been
investigated effectively. Amnesty International calls on the government of
Cameroon to urgently initiate thorough, independent, impartial and transparent
investigations into crimes under international law committed by all parties to
the conflict in Cameroon.
Background
Amnesty International’s
analysis is based on testimonies of witnesses, victims and media reports.
In April 2015, Amnesty
International published a report: 'Our job is to shoot, slaughter and kill':
Boko Haram’s reign of terror in north east Nigeria which outlined the serious
abuses committed by Boko Haram. Click here for more:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr44/1360/2015/en/
In June 2015, Amnesty
International published a report which revealed grievous human rights
violations committed by the Nigerian military, Stars on their shoulders, blood
on their hands. Click here for more:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr44/1657/2015/en/
On 16 September Amnesty
International published a report on abuses by Boko Haram in Cameroon and
violations be state security forces, Human rights under fire: Attacks and
violations in Cameroon's struggle with Boko Haram. Clickhere for more:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr17/1991/2015/en/
On 24 September, Amnesty
International submitted a written statement to the 30th session of the UN Human
Rights Council, which runs from 14 September until 2 October 2015 in Geneva,
Switzerland. Click here for more:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr44/2428/2015/en/
On 24 September, Amnesty
International also published a public statement on the latest attacks by Boko
Haram. Click here for more:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr44/2498/2015/en/
The UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights presented a report to the 30th regular session of the UN Human
Rights Council “on violations and abuses committed by Boko Haram and the impact
on human rights in the affected countries” (UN index A/HRC/30/67), available at
this link http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session30/Pages/ListReports.aspx
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