Ayandeji Lateef Akanbi, PhD
Thaddeus, Blessing Iveren
Nwagu Evelyn Eziamaka
&
Barr. STELLA AHIJO
Abstract
This study, the intersection between human rights empowerment and conflict resolution in Nigeria is a modest
attempt at emphasizing the importance of these concepts in bringing about a more peaceful Nigeria. Though their
methods and approaches may differ, their goals are seemingly similar. In the context of the above fact, this
research sets out to interrogate the relationship between human rights empowerment and conflict resolution in
Nigeria, with particular focus on how the two concepts have been mutually working for a common good and just
society. The study, which is inter-disciplinary in nature, adopts both descriptive and analytical methods of research
in discussing the data that were mostly obtained from secondary and primary sources. The research outcome
emphasized the need for policy-makers and practitioners to continually recognize and explore the mutual utility
of human rights empowerment and conflict resolution as a veritable tool for creating and maintaining a just and
peaceful Nigeria.
Keywords: Conflict Resolution, Human Rights, Empowerment
Introduction
Preventing wars and massive human rights violations, and rebuilding societies in their
aftermath, requires an approach that incorporates the perspective of both human rights
advocates and conflict resolution practitioners. This is easier to assert than to achieve. These
two groups make different assumptions, apply different methodologies, and have different
institutional constraints. In the short run, both seek to end violence, loss of life, and other
suffering as quickly as possible. In the long run, both human rights and conflict resolution
practitioners try to assist societies in taking steps to ensure that violence does not recur and that
the rights of every human being are respected.
Human Rights and Conflict Resolution can be married together in terms of the well-being of
the members of a particular society. They are set out to bring about a much-needed peace in
the society. Human history has been punctuated by widespread and reoccurring violent
conflicts. The efforts to ascertain the reasons for the phenomenon have engaged the minds of
scholars and other educational contributors. It is clear by now that competitive elements create
conflict, and the corporative part creates encouragement to discuss agreement. Conflict is part
of our society now and wherever conflict arises, there are always human rights issues coming
alongside it.
It is a fact that the two practitioners possess different methodologies of working there are also
instances where both responsibilities intersect. For example, for human rights and conflict
resolution to complement each other, it is important not to focus solely on respect for human
rights while ignoring the need to end violent conflict. This study is intended to explore these
apparent points of intersection between human rights and conflict resolution in Nigeria more
explicitly.