By Amaka Madu.
The National human rights commission (NHRC) in partnership with the united Nations development program (UNDP),the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for human rights (OHCHR), Organized a town hall meeting on promotion and protection of Human Rights.The town hall meeting was centerd on serving as a multi stakeholder platform on the promotion and protection of human rights in Anambra State, providing opportunities for understanding the mandate and opportunities within the National human rights Commission for the promotion and protection of human rights in Nigeria and strengthen partnership, promotion of feedback mechanism and sharing best practices collaboration with stakeholders for the promotion and protection of human rights in Anambra State.
In his opening speech,the Representative of the Executive Secretary National human rights Commission.Mr Hillary Ogbonna expressed the Commission’s willingness to collaborate with Religious leaders, community leaders,media,and the youth wing in the state since Anambra State is the heart land of the Igbo Because in any democratic setting, human Rights must be protected as they are multi dimensional for a lot of reasons..Mr ogbonna explained that different rights of an individual are all important items of discussion today for the common Anambrarians citing insecurity as a result of crimes including that Anambra State has found it’s self in litany of violations of human rights referring to Sit at homes as a threat to human rights ,Stating that this town hall meeting is targeted to addressing such challenges to Anambrarians.In his lecture series ,The State Coordinator of National human rights Commission in Anambra State,Barr Obinna Maduro took time to trace back the history of Human Rights laws from different countries of the world including Nigeria.like the Confucianism and Buddhism who promoted ethical behavior,Narrating that Anambra State like other states in Nigeria is grappled with significant human rights challenges with Gender based violence on the high side.including Extra judicial killings , Unlawful detention by the police,torture and forceful altering of statements on suspects.Arrest by proxy,Rape and Assault among others.Mr Maduro further stated that recent survey conducted shows that between June 2022 and Jan 2023 over 100 individuals primarily men lost their lives in cult related matters in Anambra State while on July 2023, a man was beheaded in Eke Awka market while the killers made away with his head and other vital organs leaving his body behind.Also in 2024,14 persons were killed in suspected cult clashes in Nibo.etc.He mentioned that Gender based violence remains a significant human rights issue in Anambra State in relation to Sexual harassment, Defilement of Minors and Harmful widowhood practices which works against the women.Therefore pleaded for Stakeholders to help increase investment in Education infrastructures and reform Judicial process to ensure Timely fair justice delivery.Miss Chioma Okoli of the human rights Commission talked about the need for community and Religious leaders and groups to engage meaningfully in community Based human rights protection and the need for local leaders to assist to advocate for change
Participants which were drawn from Community leaders, Religious leaders, National Youth council of Nigeria,The Media,Asatu,, Muslim community and others pledged to spread the good news of advocating for change in preserving the fundamental human rights of the people and more sensitized on the domestic rights of women and children in the family..as The igwe of Ebenebe explained that his cabinet absorbed 8 women as part of his cabinet in order to help give the women a sense of belonging and therefore adviced other community leaders to do same In order to protect the rights of the women in the decision making process…..
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