UN BODY MEETS ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN NIGERIA

Published in punch of Monday, June 12, 2006

The newly created United Nations Human Rights Council will convene its first meeting in Geneva, Switzerland next week to consider the human rights report on Nigeria.  The report was produced by the Special Representatives of the Secretary General on human rights, Hina Jilani.

The Director of International Services of Human Rights for Switzerland, Mr. Chris Sidoti, stated this on Friday at a meeting with the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Mr. Bukhari Bello.

Sidoti said the report on Nigeria would be one of the issues to be considered by the council when it convened for the first time in Geneva.

He commended Nigeria for allowing the Special Representative to visit Nigeria to carry out investigations leading to the report.

He said by this, Nigeria has demonstrated its willingness to embrace the challenges posed by the promotion of human rights.

He advised Nigeria to take Jilani’s report very seriously more so that Nigeria had been elected a member of the UN Human Rights Council.

Part of the issues raised by Jilani in the report is an advice for the Nigerian Government to review the provisions and implementation of the Public Order Act to ensure that the right to freedom of assembly is fully respected.

Dear Networkers,

 The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Mr. Bukhari Bello.

Has been removed by the Federal Government in circumstances that is generating debate among the Human Rights Community .Bello had just been granted a second tenure of five years but he was recently removed following his  criticism of some  government actions like the failed  third term bid by political holders and the arrest of journalists. Shows that here in Nigeria he who pays the piper dictates the tune, so much for the independence of our Human Rights Commission.

Nogi Imoukhuede,
Project Coordinator,
Women's Rights Watch Nigeria-www.rufarm.kabissa.org