Human Rights Promotion: NHRC Set to partner with Nigerian Authors

HUMAN RIGHTS PROMOTION: NHRC SET TO PARTNER WITH NIGERIAN AUTHORS

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has reiterated its commitment to partner with the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) and other organisations that have the capacity to assist the Commission in the promotion and protection of human rights in Nigeria.

Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu Esq. who stated this in Abuja when the Executive members of ANA paid a courtesy visit to the Commission said that writers fall within the realm of human rights defenders because their works are very crucial in propagating human rights norms and practices all over the world.

According to Ojukwu, we are grateful for your plan to share perspectives with us because we have a common mandate to bring out the truth and protect the rights of the people. “Partnering with an organisation like ANA will provide a good opportunity to accomplish more works in human rights protection in the country”, he added.

The Chief Human Rights Officer in Nigeria also assured the visiting Writers that the Commission will ensure that their own rights are adequately protected in the course of their work which at times comes with some challenges especially when they condemn certain ills in the society.

The Human Rights Czar recalled that long years of military rule in Nigeria tended to influence the mindset of some Nigerians who now see certain denial of rights as a way of life, “but with what we are doing today and what Writers like you can assist us to do, we will continue to change the narratives to conform with human rights best practices”.

Earlier, the newly elected National President of ANA, Mr. Camillus Ukah said that they were in the Commission to seek partnership to enable them to further contribute their quota to human rights promotion and protection.

Ukah, a novelist took his time to chronicle the role of Writers in building a society pointing out that as Writers their ultimate target is to liberate the society and seek to improve human rights and humanitarian condition of the people which, he noted is the crux of the mandate of the Commission.

The ANA President also used the opportunity to urge the Commission to stand by the members of the Association, especially in trying times saying that some of their members suffer human rights violations in the course of their duties, part of which he noted could arise when Writers condemn certain ills in the society involving prominent persons.

He also used the opportunity to inform the Executive Secretary of ANA’s upcoming zoom conference in September this year which he promised to formally invite him to participate.