SLC22-W3 / Human Rights (HR)

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Hello teacher
Thank you so much for the class, I present my task below.

Based on what was explained in class, state in your own words and with explanations whether you consider that human rights are respected or violated in your country.

Human rights in Nigeria are sometimes respected but violated mostly, making the situation a bit complicated. Although Nigeria's 1999 constitution safeguards human rights, even though violation of human rights continues to occur. Every day, the right to life is being violated, especially in rural areas of the northcentral, northeast and southeast regions. The high authorities are not protecting people from attacks and kidnappings by bandits, Boko Haram and unknown gunmen. The right to education is also threatened, as school children are frequently kidnapped.

The main issue in my country is the harassment of young men and violence from security forces. Police often stop young men, demanding money, humiliating them, and even pressuring them into transactions, assuming that all well-dressed young men are involved in internet fraud.

Another serious problem is the violation of voting rights. Citizens are not allowed to vote for their preferred candidates. Although it is claimed that elections are free and fair, this is not the case in Nigeria. People are either told who to vote for or are discouraged from voting altogether, leading to outcomes that favor the authorities.

Additionally, forced evictions are a major concern. Authorities continue to evict residents without proper notice, compensation, or plans for alternative housing, leaving many people homeless.

With all these and more, human rights are highly violated in my country, Nigeria.

Please state, according to the laws of your country, whether Human Rights have the same value as the Constitution of your country, whether they are supra-constitutional, or whether the Constitution prevails over international treaties on Human Rights.

The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states that everyone has the right to the freedoms listed in this Declaration, without any discrimination based on race, color, gender, or language. The key rights in this Constitution include the right to life, respect for human dignity, personal freedom, fair trial, privacy in family life, and freedom of speech, among others.

The Constitution of Nigeria safeguards human rights and is more important than international human rights treaties. Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution outlines these rights, including the right to life, dignity, and personal freedom. It also guarantees freedom from discrimination. The main goal of the Constitution is to protect the rights, lives, and property of citizens while stopping injustice and unfair rule.

Part II

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Mention any organisation in your region that has jurisdiction over human rights. In your opinion, how useful has it been and how has it's operation influenced respect for human rights in your country.

There are many organizations to this and they include;

• The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
• Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
• Constitutional rights project (CRP)
• Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC)
• Committee for the defense of human rights (CDHR)

These human rights groups in Nigeria are essential in advancing and safeguarding human rights by:

Offering legal support
These organizations assist victims of human rights violations with legal help.

Looking into violations
These groups examine cases of human rights violations and torture, and they work to combat these issues through legal action, reports, and advocacy.

Assisting victims
They provide support to those who have suffered abuse in one way or the other.

Raising awareness
They inform the public about human rights matters and ways to protect them.

Aiding policy development
Human rights organizations assist the Nigerian government in creating human rights policies.

Even though these human rights groups are active, the top leaders in this country always control the laws. I believe these leaders can easily break the law because they think they create the law, rather than being governed by it.

Have you or someone close to you been a victim of human rights violations? If so, what was the situation and were you able to assert your rights?

Yes, someone I know experienced human rights violations. This happened a few years ago when we traveled for an event in another city in my country.

My friend was dressed nicely and had a unique hairstyle that he liked. However, the authorities we encountered that day did not appreciate his look. They ordered him to get out of the vehicle, and after some questioning, he was slapped twice. They then forced him to sit in dirty water on the road, threatening to shoot him if he didn’t comply.

The officers told us to continue our journey without him, but that was impossible since he was a passenger. They found no evidence against him, so they chose to violate his rights instead. He was not allowed to speak or move until they were done with him. Eventually, they let him go, but nothing changed afterward. We realized this kind of behavior is common, and since they are the law, they often escape accountability.

Part III

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Case study 1; Please state whether you believe that the human rights of the victim in this case were indeed violated and whether the complaint to the aforementioned body should be admitted or not. Explain your answers.

This woman's human rights, including her right to life, have been compromised. While she was not killed, her son was, raising concerns for her safety. She has the right to travel freely to any town without being stopped by armed individuals, but sadly, her rights have been violated.

Her complaints should be addressed right away. This would allow human rights organizations to help safeguard her life and belongings. If this situation is ignored, even worse incidents could occur and persist.

Case study 2; Please state whether you believe that the human rights of both the victim and his/her family are being violated. Explain your answers.

According to all these rights mentioned in the lesson;

✓ Right to education.
✓ Right to work.
✓ Right to health.
✓ Right to social security.
✓ Right to family protection.
✓ Right to equal opportunities.
✓ Right to a decent standard of living.

The rights of the victim and his family are being ignored. First, what led to his death at the hands of a police officer? Second, why is the prosecutor hesitant and unwilling to pursue the murderers? Third, if it were someone close to him who was killed, wouldn’t he ensure that justice is served?

I believe the rights of this family have been violated. They deserve social security and protection, but they have received none. The authorities have the laws at their disposal.

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