By Ebere Agozie
Human Rights stakeholders have pledged to address impunity and work towards a Nigeria where everyone is equal before the law.
They made the pledge at the event to commemorate the 75th International Human Rights Day in Abuja.l, on Monday.
The event was organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice, the National Human Rights Commission, Committee Against Torture-Nigeria and the Sterling Law Centre.
The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Mr Anthony Ojukwu in joint statement by the stakeholders, asked all to be committed to upholding the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
Ojukwu said the event with the theme: ‘Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All’ underscores the fundamental values of dignity, freedom, and justice that form the cornerstone of human rights.
“We acknowledge the challenges within our legal system and commit to ongoing reforms that strengthen the judiciary, enhance access to justice, and combat corruption,”he said.
He said that Nigeria ensuring accountability and the rule of law is the cornerstone of any fair society.
“As we celebrate this milestone anniversary, we acknowledge the progress made and recommit ourselves to addressing the pressing human rights issues confronting our nation.
“Dignity is upholding the inherent worth of every individual and the essence of humanity.
“We, therefore, recognise the challenges faced by vulnerable groups, including women, children, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities.
“We pledge to strengthen legal frameworks, enforcement mechanisms, and public awareness campaigns to eradicate discrimination, violence, and injustice”.
He said that freedom was the bedrock of a just society and fostering of a culture of inclusivity and liberty.
“As a nation, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and association.
“We acknowledge the importance of a free and vibrant civil society in fostering democratic principles and national development.
“We condemn all forms of censorship, intimidation, and infringement on these fundamental rights”.
He said the stakeholders would continue to work on critical issues by balancing security concerns with human rights protections as a priority.
“We need to eradicate torture, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment as the anti-torture act will be vigorously enforced, and awareness campaigns will be intensified to eliminate these heinous practices.
“We will strengthen efforts to eliminate gender-based violence, protect both women and children,” he said.
The Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba called for support, cooperation and expertise to ensure that international standards and obligations are complied with.
“I encourage our diligent Law Enforcement Agencies to continue to take measures in combating torture in all their detention centers and uphold human rights standards,”she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Joseph Edeh
