Pump and pageantry as Jos human rights film festival ends 2nd edition
By Daniel Agada, Jos
A four days human rights film festival, featured movies that matter have rounded up with the called on members of the society to intensified priority in lending their voices to fight against human rights violation.
The festival which held at the citadel event Hall of Museum Jos the Plateau state capital from 1st to 4th November’s, 2023 was organized by the Jos Film Initiative, Rock International Film Festival, RIFF, second edition.
Henry Mafulul, executive Director of Jos Film Initiative
revealed the essence of the film festival is to create awareness about human rights, and to create a consciousness that would inspire action against human rights violation in the society.
“For the first three days of the event we had screen human rights movies and had conversion around those movies. Basically, we used the film as a platform, and like the first day we talk about protest as a tool for social change and justice.
“The second day we screen movies and them had a conversation on human rights violation as issues in Nigeria. And the third day we screen movies that is thought about human trafficking, drugs trafficking and child abuse.
So we had panel of discussants.
“Today it climax with the award which is to recognize the people that are fighting human rights. People that are involved in this campaign. Organization such as NAPTIP which has been in existence since Obasanjo’s regime, fighting against human trafficking.
“Information available shows that from last year 2022 to this year 2023 Jos has become a hot zone in terms of human trafficking and this initiative will go a way in minimizing the trend.
“Were awarding the participation and film makers that makes the movies screenplay during the film festival.
“At the end of the day our expectations is to see men and women rising to the occasion of creating awareness about child right, students right and all manner of abuse that will infringed their future.
Amber Treasure, festival coordinator, acknowledged that this year’s(2023) event is the mother of last year 2022. Noting,” the uniqueness of this year event is that were reaching out more especially to the students in which we have the secondary school and Tertiary institution students which all came around.
“So now were going dawn to the grassroot to fight together so that they can be aware of the human rights. The impact and level of compliance is good.
Plateau state coordinator, National Human Rights, Mrs Veronica Abe, said the festival is very important because it portray some various human rights violation, most especially in the areas where some people assumed is not a human rights violation, creating awareness in the society against those violation is very key
“We need more of this engagement and I want to thank the organizers for not just gathered people in the hall but take this things to schools where the violations starts and this will further educates our teeming youths who are the great leaders of tomorrow so that they can learn to tolerate and respect each others’ rights.”
She adjudged the second edition of the human rights film festival is far better than the first edition, encouraging the youths to speak up and to be advocate of human rights violation.
Our correspondent observed that the award recipients cut across government and non governmental organizations, challenging them to do more in their various field of endeavor as they continue the fight against human rights violation in order to make a world a better place.
The award recipients of the 2023 human rights film festival includes; Plateau state ministry of women affairs and social development, NAPTIP, Peace Foundation against violence, Eye focus movement for girls, St.Pirans High School Jos, Peculiar International College Jos amongst others.
