The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged lawmakers to mainstream human rights and Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA) into the legislative process, warning that laws enacted without adequate rights-based scrutiny could undermine citizens’ freedoms and erode public confidence in democratic institutions.

The Executive Secretary of the commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu (SAN), made the call at a one-day workshop organised by the NHRC in Umuahia, Abia State, on “Mainstreaming Human Rights and Human Rights Impact Assessment into the Legislative Process and Legislation,” held at the Bishop Anthony Nwedo Pastoral Centre.

Ojukwu, whose address was delivered by the Abia State Coordinator of the commission, Barrister Uche Nwokocha, said human rights considerations should cover the entire legislative process, from policy formulation and bill drafting to committee consideration, public hearings, debate, enactment, oversight and post-legislative review.

He said the workshop was designed to strengthen collaboration between the commission and legislative institutions and equip lawmakers with practical tools for incorporating human rights considerations into lawmaking.

The NHRC boss stressed the need for public hearings to move beyond mere procedural requirements and provide citizens, experts, professional bodies, civil society organisations and affected communities with meaningful opportunities to contribute to the lawmaking process.

He observed that legislative processes were sometimes conducted under tight time constraints, with inadequate empirical evidence, limited human rights analysis and insufficient engagement with affected communities.

Ojukwu said the quality of democracy should not be measured solely by the number of laws passed, but also by the quality, inclusiveness and human rights compliance of such laws.

He noted that legislation affects critical areas of citizens’ lives, including access to justice, education, healthcare, housing, security, livelihoods and civic participation, calling for rigorous scrutiny of every bill before it becomes law.

Warning that laws enacted without adequate consultation and human rights analysis could result in unintended consequences, constitutional challenges, litigation and public distrust, he advocated the institutionalisation of HRIA as a practical tool for improving the quality of legislation.

According to him, HRIA can help lawmakers identify potential human rights violations before a bill becomes law and assess how proposed legislation may affect vulnerable groups, including women, children, persons with disabilities, older persons, internally displaced persons and other marginalised communities.

Ojukwu said HRIA should not be regarded as an additional bureaucratic hurdle, but as a decision-making mechanism that enables legislators to anticipate the legal and social consequences of proposed laws.

He assured legislators that the NHRC remained committed to working with the National Assembly, state Houses of Assembly and other relevant institutions to promote rights-based governance.

“Our objective is not to interfere with the legislative mandate, but to support lawmakers in fulfilling their constitutional responsibility to enact laws that are fair, just, inclusive, and fully compliant with national, regional and international human rights standards,” he said.

He urged participants, comprising human rights groups, civil society organisations, legislative staff, justice sector officials, politicians, members of the public and other stakeholders, to explore practical ways of institutionalising HRIA within legislative procedures and standing orders.

Ojukwu said the ultimate measure of a legislature was not the number of bills it passed, but the positive impact of its laws on citizens’ lives.

He called on legislators to ensure that every legislative decision answers critical questions about its impact on the rights and dignity of the people, particularly vulnerable and marginalised groups.