By Our Correspondent
For laws to impacts on the enjoyment of human rights by citizens, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is insisting that all National laws should be verified and scrutinized by the Commission to ensure compliance with international human rights standards.
Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu, SAN, OFR stated this during a visit to the Commission by a delegation from the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate of the United Nations.
Ojukwu who was represented by the Director, of Civil and Political Rights, Mr. Abdulrahaman Yakubu said the Commission has the power to review any law that impacts on the enjoyment of human rights. He added that the National Assembly has always drawn the attention of the Commission to any of such laws in order to ensure compliance with international best practices.
On the Commission’s role in counter-terrorism, the human rights Boss stated that the Commission has been engaging relevant stakeholders in mainstreaming human rights and humanitarian law into counter-terrorism strategy, stressing that the Commission has made meaningful interventions to ensure that issues that have to do with terrorism are adequately addressed.
To reduce the effect of terrorism on the civilians population, the Chief Human Rights Officer said the Commission has worked with stakeholders to design a policy on the protection of civilians from harm during conflicts and ensuring that the rights of victims are placed at the centre of counter-terrorism, pointing out that there is a need to review the law in respect of victim’s compensation.
Earlier, the leader of the delegations, Ms. Kelly Low said the purpose of their visit was to assess Nigeria’s progress, strength, and challenges in the implementation of the Security Council Resolution to enable them to make adequate recommendations on steps to be taken in order to fully implement the resolution.
She expressed satisfaction with the quantum of work that the Commission has carried out in relation to counter-terrorism in the North East which includes: monitoring the human rights and humanitarian challenges of IDP occasioned by insurgency, training security personnel on mainstreaming human rights in counter-terrorism operations, transitional justice programme aimed at bringing lasting peace to the region most affected by insurgency, visits to detention facilities to monitor the conditions of inmates, etc.
NHRC insists, all laws must be subjected to Commission scrutiny for effective compliance
