From Owede Agbajileke, Abuja
The Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) and the National Human Rights Commission have embarked on an awareness walk to commemorate International Human Rights Day.
This is in addition to the Commission’s appeal to Nigerians to support the Human Rights Fund, which remains unfunded to date.
Executive Secretary of NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu SAN, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at an awareness walk to commemorate International Human Rights Day.
Dr. Ojukwu urged Nigerians to contribute to the promotion of human rights by donating resources.
The exercise witnessed the Executive Secretary leading other Nigerians on a road walk from Eagles Square, Central Area, to the Commission’s headquarters at Maitama.
The event had the theme: “Equality – Reducing Inequalities and Advancing Human Rights.”
It was organized in partnership with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC), funded by the European Union, and implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).
Participants carried placards bearing messages, including calls to action such as: “Stand for equality, fight for humanity,” “Human rights are universal rights. Let’s protect them,” “Human rights know no boundaries,” “Break the chains of inequality, advance human rights,” among others.
Speaking to reporters, the Executive Secretary underscored the need for Nigerians to recognize that protecting human rights is a collective responsibility that goes beyond government efforts alone.
He lauded RoLAC for its valuable support, which helped ensure the programme’s success.
His words: “We need resources because all these things cannot be done without resources. The government is trying, but they can do a lot better, they can do a lot more. And also note that it is not only for the government to assist in addressing human rights violations.
“Private individuals, companies, can also donate. It doesn’t have to be cash; they can donate equipment. They can donate computers, they can donate laptops, they can donate vehicles, they can donate facilities, tables, chairs, all those kinds of things, they all help.
“So we call upon Nigerians to see addressing the rights of Nigerians as a common problem, not only to be left to the government. There is a Human Rights Fund; nobody has donated one naira to that fund. Why can’t we have a lot of private individuals in this country who can afford to donate 100 million naira, and it will not mean anything to them?
“And they will be happy knowing that the number of displaced persons, the number of people begging on the streets, the number of children who cannot go to school, the number of women who are thrown out of their homes, the number of children who are wandering on the streets with no shelter—these are things that can be addressed. When you watch the dashboard every month, you see how many children have been abandoned because the parents can no longer fulfil their responsibilities.”
On her part, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Commission, Dr. Salamatu Suleiman, said that the commemoration of Human Rights Day should not be confined to one day but celebrated every day.
She said emphasis must be placed on out-of-school children, stressing that educating them would eliminate vices in society.
The Guardian reports that International Human Rights Day is celebrated annually on December 10 to commemorate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). It is the high point of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, which commenced on November 25.
