By Danlami Nmodu
The National Human Rights Commission,NHRC will within this month release its interim report on the situation in the embattled North- East Nigeria.The region is the hotbed bed of Boko Haram crisis where a state of emergency has been imposed on three states-Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.The Commission decided recently to embark on its independent assessment of the crisis in the region.
The Governing Council of the Commission in a statement after its 3rd 2013 statutory meeting in Lagos said that “Council received an update on the situation in the North-East Nigeria and authorized the expedited completion and release of an interim assessment report on the situation before the end of June 2013.”
The meeting which was attended by eleven members of the council including its Chairman Prof Chidi Anselm Odinkalu also expressed “concern alarming rate of incidents of domestic and sexual violence in the country, particularly rape of young persons”
The statement adds “Council calls on the relevant authorities in the criminal justice sector including the Honorable Attorney General of the Federation, State Attorneys General, Inspector General of Police and heads of the various courts to take immediate steps at ensuring that victims of domestic and sexual violence enjoy prompt remedies including fast-tracking of trials of offenders and appropriate sentencing. Council specifically calls on heads of competent courts to issue appropriate child protection orders in accordance with Child Rights Act/Law and other relevant laws.”
Also it said “Council further calls for greater awareness and concern on the part of the general public on the negative psychological and sociological consequences of sexual and domestic violence on women, children and society at large. There is the urgent need for a societal orientation to stamp out this scourge.”
Significantly,”Council also noted with concern the increasing number of children out of school despite the fact that education of children up to junior secondary school is free and compulsory in Nigeria. Council urges State Governments to make their counterpart contributions to the Universal Basic Education Commission fund to ensure that education is qualitatively free up to Junior Secondary School.”
The “Council considered, adopted and approved for publication Standing Orders and Rules of Procedures to govern its proceedings, the management of cases and complaints and relations with partners, including civil society”,the statement said
Read details of the council’s statement:
3RD 2013 STATUTORY MEETING OF THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION,HOLDEN AT IKEJA, LAGOS.
The Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission convened for its 3rd 2013 statutory meeting in Ikeja, Lagos between 10th and 12th June, 2013. Eleven members of council, including the chairman, attended the meeting.
Council considered, adopted and approved for publication Standing Orders and Rules of Procedures to govern its proceedings, the management of cases and complaints and relations with partners, including civil society.
Council received an update on the situation in the North-East Nigeria and authorized the expedited completion and release of an interim assessment report on the situation before the end of June 2013.
Council received and considered reports on 336 cases and complaints in various stages of investigation alleging different violations of human rights.
Council observed with concern alarming rate of incidents of domestic and sexual violence in the country, particularly rape of young persons.
Council also expressed concern about the fact that victims of violence against women and children do not have access to remedies. Access to remedies is always constrained by breakdown in communications between agencies of the criminal justice system which sometimes results in delay in processing legal advice from Ministries of Justice and a cumbersome trial process by the judiciary, particularly lower courts.
Council calls on the relevant authorities in the criminal justice sector including the Honorable Attorney General of the Federation, State Attorneys General, Inspector General of Police and heads of the various courts to take immediate steps at ensuring that victims of domestic and sexual violence enjoy prompt remedies including fast-tracking of trials of offenders and appropriate sentencing. Council specifically calls on heads of competent courts to issue appropriate child protection orders in accordance with Child Rights Act/Law and other relevant laws.
Council further calls for greater awareness and concern on the part of the general public on the negative psychological and sociological consequences of sexual and domestic violence on women, children and society at large. There is the urgent need for a societal orientation to stamp out this scourge.
Council also noted with concern the increasing number of children out of school despite the fact that education of children up to junior secondary school is free and compulsory in Nigeria. Council urges State Governments to make their counterpart contributions to the Universal Basic Education Commission fund to ensure that education is qualitatively free up to Junior Secondary School.
Council therefore calls on the Honorable Attorney General of the Federation, State Attorneys General and the Inspector General of Police to ensure full implementation of the obligations of the Federal and State Governments under the Universal Basic Education Act and other relevant laws and where necessary prosecute parents or guardians who fail to abide by the provisions of the Act.
Council unreservedly condemns the killings of policemen, operatives of the State Security Service in Nasarawa State and in other parts of the country and calls for speedy and thorough investigation of such crimes and bringing the perpetrators of these crimes to justice.
Council also commiserates with the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services and the families of all those who have tragically been deprived of their right to life in the course of duty.
