Executive Secretary NHRC, Tony Ojukwu (SAN)
United Nation (UN) Secretary General, António Guterres in a message to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in commemoration of the 2021 World Human Rights Day said, the outbreak of the noble covid-19 in 2020, the climate crisis and the expansion of digital technology into all areas of our lives have created new threats to human rights.
The UN scribe noted that as a result of the aforementioned; exclusion and discrimination are becoming rampant and public space shrinking, adding that poverty and hunger are rising for the first time in decades.
But, he said, the world can choose a different path. According to him seventy-three years ago the UN Assembly adopted the universal declaration of human rights, noting that the principles set out in the declaration remain the key to realizing all human rights.
In the same vein, the UN high commissioner for human rights, Michelle Bachelet in her Human Rights Day’s message, says equality is the solution to the setbacks sparked by global shocks and exacerbated by COVID-19. “Equality is about empathy and solidarity and about understanding that, as a common humanity, our only way forward is to work together for the common good.”
“But the inequalities inflamed by Covid-19 are pushing us backwards. It is about time we pushback and bring them down,” she said.
However, the NHRC boss, Tony Ojukwu (SAN) in his remarks on the occasion of the kick-off of road walk to commemorate the 2021 international human rights day said it’s a matter of great concern that violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread, ongoing and upsetting human rights violation.
He noted that the worst part is that violence against women and girls has remained largely unreported due to the silence, stigma and shame attached to it.
According to him, “The principles of equality and non-discrimination are at the heart of human rights, therefore, ending violence against women is everyone’s business and a global campaign because it transcends borders and cultures.
“Ending and prevention of violence should start early in life by educating and working with young boys and girls promoting respectful relationship and gender equality. Raising awareness of the dangers of harmful traditions, listening to girls experiences of violence, engaging boys and young men to become agents of change and speaking out against all forms of violence,” Ojukwu said.
Meanwhile, Core Reporters report that this year theme of Human Rights Day is “Equality-Reducing Inequalities, Advancing Human Rights.”
