The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and Actionaid on Friday called for concerted effort to end all forms of human rights abuse.
The organisations made the call at joint stakeholders’ meeting on migration in Benin as part of activities to commemorate the 2021 International Human Rights Day.
Mrs Chidiebere Oruruo-Ifudu, NAPTIP’s Zonal Commander, Benin, noted that human rights were inalienable rights of every human being, which must not be taken away from them.
Oruruo-Ifudu also stressed that all humans were equal and none should be treated differently based on gender, race, colour or language which amounted to rights violations.
According to her, human trafficking as well as bullying are also parts of human rights violations.
“We will lend our voices to ensure that the rights of individuals are not only upheld but preserved.
“We hope to come out of this meeting with results that will help us in our task of ensuring that our rights are protected,’’ the zonal commander said.
She called on CSOs, NGOs, faith-based groups and well meaning Nigerians to ensure relevant agencies of government promote social justice and uphold human rights.
Mrs Chioma Eze, Migration Programme Coordinator, Actionaid, Benin, said based on research, poverty was one of the major factors responsible for human trafficking and irregular migration.
“Poverty arises because of unequal relations of power and is a violation of human rights arising from unequal power relations.
“Poverty is the denial of human rights, including the right to dignity, and right to access basic needs such as health, education and safe cities for women and children.
“Therefore, by virtue of our core mandate, we are burdened with the responsibility to amplify the voices of rights-holders and hold duty bearers accountable in such a way that it will produce results,’’ Eze said.(NAN)
