The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) in Nigeria has expressed concern over a circulating video showing 124 protesters, including minors with visible signs of malnutrition and exhaustion, arraigned in court on Friday, 1 November 2024, for allegedly protesting against bad governance that affects their livelihood, a fundamental right protected by Nigeria’s democratic constitution.
The Commission made this known in a press statement issued on Saturday, 2 November, in Abuja by the Commission’s Ambassador-at-Large and Head of Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Duru Hezekiah.
Appealing to the Federal Government for a drastic intervention, the Ambassador-at-Large observed that the disheartening incident serves as a powerful reminder of the collective responsibility to protect human rights.
He underscored the human rights concerns surrounding Nigerian minors in Kuje Prison and other correctional facilities, emphasising that Nigerians must prioritize this issue, recognizing their shared obligation to protect human dignity within the global community.
Furthermore, Dr. Hezekiah emphasized that the Organization strongly disapproves of juvenile delinquency in all its forms, including vandalism, theft, violence, and gang involvement. Nevertheless, it recognizes that individuals in correctional facilities retain their inherent dignity as human beings.
While commending the presiding judge’s intervention in halting the trial, he urged the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Law Enforcement Agencies, to thoroughly investigate and prevent such injustices, fostering a society where dignity and justice thrive.
He implores the Nigerian Government to deepen its commitment to child rights, as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), Nigerian Child Rights Act (2003), and the National Youth Policy (2019), through the Nigerian Child Rights Committee and Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRWA), to fulfill its responsibilities.
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