Rights groups decry shrinking civic space in Africa, seek stronger safeguards

Human rights institutions and key stakeholders across West Africa contain raised alarm over the increasing constriction of civic dwelling within the sub-spot, calling for pressing collective action to safeguard human rights and democratic freedoms.

Speaking at the outlet of the Regional Consultation of National Human Rights Establishments (NHRIs) in West Africa, held in Abuja on Tuesday, the President of the Network of National Human Rights Establishments in West Africa (NNHRI-WA), Dr. Joseph Whittal, decried the escalating threats to civic freedoms.

He generally generally known as for a shift in direction of a human rights-based skill to addressing migration points across the continent.

“As human rights institutions, we cannot exclaim to be honest to our countries or institutions if we attain no longer plot end migration points seriously,” Whittal said, emphasising the role of NHRIs in monitoring migration traits and conserving inclined populations.

Also talking used to be Barrie Freeman, Deputy Particular Consultant of the United Nations Secretary-Customary for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), who underscored the deserve to provide protection to migrants and be definite that civic dwelling stays originate for citizens to exercise their rights with out wretchedness of repression.

Freeman warned that the nervous dwelling for civil society and the stifling of public participation pose a predominant menace to democratic governance, peace, and human rights within the spot.

In his welcome contend with, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Nigeria, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, SAN, reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to promoting human rights and deepening regional cooperation among NHRIs.

“This yr marks the Thirtieth anniversary of the institution of the NHRC in Nigeria. From our early days under protection power rule to the present democratic generation, the Commission has remained a key actor in defending human rights and promoting democratic accountability,” Ojukwu illustrious.

He said the NHRC has grown from a single office to 38 places nationwide, receiving and resolving an reasonable of two million human rights complaints yearly. He added that the Commission has issued several indictments and paid compensation to victims of violations, highlighting its role as a quasi-judicial body.

Ojukwu wired the pressing need for unity among West African NHRIs in confronting the rising tide of human rights violations across the spot, exacerbated by protection power takeovers, terrorism, inner displacement, and the influence of climate swap.

“Our shared challenges are formidable, but no longer insurmountable when we stand collectively,” he said. “The ensures of the Customary Declaration of Human Rights and the African Structure on Human and Peoples’ Rights can handiest be realised if NHRIs stay alive to their mandates and are supported to discharge their responsibilities as gatekeepers of human rights.”

The consultation used to be supported by the ECOWAS Commission, the Situation of enterprise of the United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and UNOWAS. It introduced collectively heads of national human rights institutions, global partners, and key executive officers to deliberate on systems for strengthening civic dwelling, migration governance, and regional cooperation in human rights promotion.

The NHRC pledged to manufacture Nigeria’s web hosting of the consultation no longer handiest productive but memorable, encouraging members to thrill in Abuja’s hospitality whereas deepening ties for lengthy-term regional collaboration.