October 12, 2012

UNLocK (The Universal Network of Local Knowledge) is a forum for civil society organizations across Nigeria to engage with one another for the collective assessment of conflict risk and to explore opportunities for promoting human security. On Thursday, September 27, representatives from Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara, Kano, Plateau, and Rivers states met in Kaduna for a workshop facilitated by Human Rights Monitor Kaduna, the Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, and The Fund for Peace to discuss conflict risks across the country and how all stakeholders can work together to address those risks. Based on this workshop it is clear that there is much work to be done. Urgent issues to be addressed include:

• Demographic Pressures
• Refugees/IDPs
• Group Grievance/Collective Violence
• Insecurity
• Effective Governance
• Public Services
• Human Rights
• Economic Pressures

Current and recent risk factors and symptoms of underlying conflict risk (as reported by the UNLocK participants) include displacement by floods in Adamawa and Niger states; sectarian violence in Bauchi and Kogi; flooding, displacement and protests in Kaduna; political thuggery in Kano; collective violence and labor strikes in Plateau; lead poisoning in Zamfara; cult violence in Delta; and armed robbery in Imo.

We call on all of civil society to work together for the public good of all Nigerians by studying these issues and networking for a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria. For more information about the UNLocK network and UNLocK analysis, please visit the website at: www.fundforpeace.org/global/?q=unlock.