UNDP Expands Human Rights Observatory to 19 States

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has expanded its High-Level Observatory on HIV and Infectious Diseases in Custodial Centres from 12 states to 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), increasing the number of participating jurisdictions to 20. This initiative aims to strengthen evidence-based interventions, institutional accountability, and the protection of human rights and access to healthcare in Nigeria's custodial centres.

Mrs Onyinye Belinda, UNDP Nigeria Programme Lead for Gender, Justice, Human Rights and Health, announced this during a data collection training in Abuja. She emphasized that the Observatory is an investment in Nigeria's capacity to understand the interplay between gender equality, justice, human rights, and health governance.

The initiative will provide a national evidence base for identifying regional patterns and developing relevant policy recommendations. Mrs Yewande Gbola-Awopetu, Head of the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Response Unit at the Federal Ministry of Justice, highlighted the importance of the Observatory in addressing human rights and healthcare challenges faced by individuals in custodial centres.