By Chris Udochukwu
As Niferia joins the rest of the world to mark the 2023 Human Rights Day and 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu has charged Nigerians to continue to demand and protect their rights using all legitimate means.
According to the NHRC Scribe, human rights are not only fundamental, they are also God-given natural endowments that cannot be taken away by the authorities or non-state actors without recourse to the law.
Ojukwu gave the charge in a statement released to Precise Post in Abuja late Sunday night.
The statement reads in full:
Statement by the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu OFR, SAN, ficmc on the occasion of the 2023 Human Rights Day and 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) – 10th December 2023
Fellow Nigerians,
On behalf of the National Human Rights Commission, I want to wish you all a Happy Human Rights Day. Today and every day, we acknowledge the sterling works of Human Rights defenders, civil society organisations, labour unions, women organisations, Nigerian youths and students, in pursuit of a world of human rights anchored in justice, equity and human solidarity.
Today, we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a unique document which proclaimed dignity, equality and justice as common standards for all people and all nations. The 30 articles of the UDHR constitute a promise and a set of gifts for humanity which guarantee dignity, life, security, access to education, healthcare, employment, fair pay, voting rights, gender equality, the values of free speech, privacy, and mutual respect irrespective of gender, race, ethnicity, or religion.
The UDHR sets out, for the first time, fundamental human rights that are today, universally protected and have been translated into over 500 languages. The UDHR has inspired, and paved the way for, the adoption of more than seventy human rights treaties, applied today on a permanent basis at global and regional levels.
As we mark this special day, there is a need to reinvigorate the principles, values and standards of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, showing its present relevance and advancing its promise of freedom, equality, and justice for all Nigerian in line with our Constitution.
To Governments at national, state and local levels in Nigeria, this is time to reflect on the tripartite obligations to respect, protect and fulfil human rights and ensure that these are reflected in budgetary, policy, legislative and programmatic activities of government. Governments should use the significance of the UDHR to implement to the letter, the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in Chapter 2 of the Constition, by placing the security and welfare of Nigerians above personal, partisan, ethnic and religious interests and considerations. It is only through the human right-based approaches that Nigeria can solve its socio-economic problems of poverty, inequalities, unemployment and insecurity. Our current economic and policy reforms should reflect a sense of government understanding its obligation to fulfil the human rights of every Nigerian.
To law enforcement and security agencies, today is an important milestone to reflect on the past and imbibe practices that respect the fundamental rights of citizens; and to adopt right-based approaches and practices in the performance of your constitutional roles.
My fellow citizens, human rights are not only fundamental, they are also God-given natural endowments that cannot be taken away by the authorities or non-state actors without recourse to the law. You should continue to demand and protect your rights using all legitimate means.
The National Human Rights Commission stands with all Nigerians and will continue to deploy its resources across the federation to promote and protect the rights of every Nigerian and non-Nigerians living in our territory.
I thank you and may God bless us all and bless this Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Happy Human Rights Day
