As the world celebrates International Human Rights Day, The Inclusion Project -TIP urges the Nigerian Government to advance human rights by ensuring equality and justice for all Nigerians, especially in the administration of criminal justice and rights to education for all.
This years theme, Freedom, Equality and Justice for All, relates to Article 1 of the UDHR, which states, All human beings are born free and equal in dignity of right.
Over the years, there are widespread of human rights violations in the country. As a result of this, the country has witnessed upsurge of cases of torture, discrimination, injustice, gross inequalities, rape, sexual and gender-based violence. Unfortunately, these rights violations mainly impact the most vulnerable groups in society, such as women and girls. Similarly, the Nigerian criminal justice system still reflects massive injustice for the poor with a high level of impunity and abuse. A clear example is the high number of poor citizens in correctional centers who are still awaiting trial, most of whom are in their youthful ages.
There is urgent need for the Nigerian Government to take steps towards addressing this ugly trend by removing every bottle neck in the criminal justice system that will guarantee speedy, free and fair trial in compliance with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act [ACJA].
As a human rights defender organization, TIP has over the years provided free legal services for incarcerated women in Nigeria. In the course of rendering this pro bono services to women facing criminal trial, the story lines and experience have been the same regarding violation of their rights in the course of their arrest, detention, delay in commencement of trial, etc. accordingly, there is urgent need to ensure that arrest, trial, and sentencing in our criminal justice system reflect respect for the fundamental rights of all.
Additionally, the right to education is the catalyst for the realization of other human rights. According to UNICEF, 13.2 million Nigerian children are out of school, and out of the 13.2 million children, 60% of them are girls. Education not only empowers citizens but also drives the prosperity of a nation and reduction of crime. By promoting education for all, Nigeria can achieve its fullest potential and achieve stability for a brighter future for the citizenry. According to TIP’s Program Director, Pamela Okoroigwe, “If we truly want Nigeria to progress, then we must ensure every child is in school as this will eventually lower criminality and strengthen the respect for human rights in Nigeria.”
TIP therefore calls on the Nigerian Government to strengthen its efforts to safeguard the human rights of all Nigerians by ensuring policies that will help towards the effective compliance with the provisions of the ACJA, Universal Basic Education Act and the Child Rights Act respectively.
For: THE INCLUSION PROJECT – TIP
Bidwell Onyeakosi
Director; Legal