The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Pauline Tallen on Wednesday called for increased efforts in the promotion and protection of women’s human rights.
Tallen made the call for a two-day consultative workshop with relevant stakeholders on the assessment of the implementation of United Nations Periodic Review (UPR) recommendations.
The minister represented by Mrs. Gloria Uwazurike, Assistant chief welfare officer in the ministry, lamented the way and manner women’s rights are being violated.
She commended the effort of the National Human Rights Commission and the United Nations Human Rights Council for making sure Nigeria fulfills its obligations in human rights matters.
” Permit me to point out that our coming together for this two days, will undoubtedly produced a local document to be reviewed in early 2024, that would provide better governance in the coming years.
” As you are aware UPR is a unique process which involves a public review of the human rights taken from all 193 UN members.
” This is a social innovation of the human rights council which is based on equal treatment for all countries” she said.
She said the UPR also includes the sharing of fair practicing around the globe .
” Women’s rights the major part of human rights cannot be over emphasised .
” This rights includes the right to live , free from violence and discrimination ,to be educated, to own property ,to vote and be voted for and to get equal wish .
” Women’s rights are human rights and women are entitled to these rights .
” Over the years government has intensified actions towards the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls” she said.
The minister said that with particular purpose on sexual and gender based violence and harmful practices to enable them enjoy their rights .
The ministry, she said, has carried out awareness, sensitization and campaigns activities on subjects and policies against violence.
” The child’s. rights act, came into existence following agitations by persons against different forms of violence in our society.
“. The act no doubt is an improvement on the criminal code in relation to prevention of violence and protection .
” It also makes provision for compensation to victims as well as the protection of their lives” she said.
Explaining the objectives of the workshop, Mr Abdulraham Yakubu, Director of Civil and Political Rights in the NHRC said participation review the UPR recommendation.
” The NHRC accepted to play pivotal role to assist the Federal Government to prepare a report that will be based on the UPR implemetation.
” The programme is also expected to submit all the independent reports and part of documentation from the sectors within the country under the period under review.
” In this workshop, we will be able to consult with all the relevant shakeholders particularly, the MDAs and CSOs, the UN agencies so that the commission will have factual information to defend this independent report.
He said it would take about six months to compile the report.
” This workshop is to bring relevant stakeholders to access the recommendations given to Nigeria and also audit human rights situation between 2019 to 2022.
” To identify areas of interventions based on UPR implementations and gaps in the improvement of govt obligations under national and international human rights standards” Yakubu said.
BRANDPOWER reports that the workshop was organised to fulfill the statutory role of the National Human Rights Commission in assisting the Federal government to ensure the realization of human rights in Nigeria.
Also to liaise and collaborate with national and international human rights entities towards enhancing the promotion and protection of human rights in the country.
