Kasim Sumaina in Abuja
Amnesty International, Nigeria, has voiced its concerns about the human rights situation in the country. This was even as it said that consistent failure of Nigerian authorities to address current and past human rights violations was emboldening impunity.
Country Director, Amnesty International, Nigeria, Isa Sanusi made the disclosure at the International Human Rights Day and the Write for Rights event in Abuja.
Sanusi, however, called on President Bola Tinubu not to miss the opportunity to address the human rights challenges, ranging from impunity by law enforcement agencies and rampant attacks and kidnapping of people in rural communities by gunmen.
The AIN Country Director, in his welcome address at the International Human Rights Day and the Write for Rights event in Abuja, stated:
“Today marks an important occasion for Amnesty International. We are celebrating the Write for Rights which is an annual letter writing marathon for justice.”
According to him, “Every year, Amnesty International runs Write For Rights, a campaign over November and December where we encourage you to write messages of support to people around the world who have suffered injustice.
“For over 20 years, Amnesty International’s annual Write for Rights campaign has transformed the lives of people whose rights have been wronged. Using the power of their words, Write for Rights supporters have united behind a common purpose: together, we can change lives.
“At Amnesty International, we are deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Nigeria. Consistent failure of Nigerian authorities to address current and past human rights violations is emboldening impunity.
“The recent air strike on a village in Kaduna is yet another eye opener on escalating disregard for the sanctity of human life.” Speaking further, he said: “We will continue to seek and solicit Nigerian authorities to seriously and thoroughly address human rights concerns in the country.”
Similarly, President, Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, Prof. Akinseye George, noted that Amnesty International is the leader when it comes to human rights, advocacy and the championing of the rights of ordinary people and, “I have come to identify with the excellent work that you are doing.”
George, in his keynote address said, “Celebrating the 75th year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, you know, so it tells me that human rights should be the concern of all of us.
“You know, in Nigeria, we have a lot of human rights guaranteed in our Constitution, but the people are not really enjoying these rights.
“So there is need for improvement in governance, there is need to conduct human rights education for our leaders, our rulers, without human
rights, we are bound to embark on policies that are not favourable to the public.
“Therefore, there is a need to strengthen the educational system, the economy, and provide jobs for the masses, particularly young school leavers,” George admonished.
