NLC, 23 Rights Group Condemn Threats Against Amnesty International, Urge Nigeria Govt For Adequate Protection

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President of Nigeria

By Nuel Suji – The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and 23 Civil Society Organisations (CSO) on Thursday condemned what it called “unjustifiable threat” against the Amnesty International by a faceless group, saying the call for it to vacate Nigeria is an attempt to frustrate efforts to protect human rights and the recurring demand for good governance in the country.

The civil rights bodies expressed worry that rather than extending sincere support and solidarity to Amnesty International to compliment the activities of credible civil rights groups to enhance democratic values in the country, an unidentifiable mischievous group continues to engage in empty threats.

The group called on the government to ensure adequate protection for the operatives and facilities of the Amnesty International Nigeria that are currently under vicious and persistent threats.

In a statement by NLC and 23 others, distributed by PRNigeria, the group denounced “in strong terms the unjustifiable recurring threats against the staff and facilities of Amnesty International Nigeria, and reiterate that no responsible individual, group or government will disparage the protection of the rights of vulnerable individuals or groups.”

According to the statement, the recurring threat is “a ridiculous attempt to frustrate efforts to protect human rights and suppress civil society activities ostensibly to hamper the recurring demand for good governance.

“We, the undersigned civil society groups that work at the intersection of the protection and promotion of human rights and good governance in Nigeria, condemn in totality the recurrent breach of peace, brazen lack of patriotism, and absolute disregard for fundamental democratic values and principles of good governance by a malicious group that has persisted in threatening and issuing unjustified ultimatums to Amnesty International Nigeria ​to vacate the country.

“We are aware that Amnesty International, as a duly registered organisation, possesses legal operational rights and mandate to protect and defend rights of the citizens irrespective of their socio-economic, ethno-religious and political backgrounds as pledged by Government of Nigeria under relevant national, regional, and global laws including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Protocols on Human Rights and Rules of Law, and particularly, Section 33 to 44 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We are disturbed but not surprised at such clearly sponsored malicious moves by some individuals, hands gloved by an undemocratic group, to divert the attention of Amnesty International Nigeria, and other credible ​civil society groups from their progressive struggles to dig deep and uprooting the persistent human rights abuses and violations in the country.

The group said the on-going attack on Amnesty International Nigeria is a glaring endorsement of its stellar strides of the organization in the protection of human rights.

“A pointer that their impactful work must be supported and sustained by all well-meaning Nigerians to enhance the rule of law, social equity, and justice,” it added.

The civil society that signed the statement are:

  1. Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC)
  2. Partners for Electoral Reforms (PER)
  3. State of the Union (SOTU)
  4. Say No Campaign
  5. Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD)
  6. Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)
  7. Zero Corruption Coalition (ZCC)
  8. Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA)
  9. Civil Society Network Against Agenda (CSNAC)
  10. Accountability Mechanism for Maternal New Born and Child health in Nigeria (AMHiN)
  11. Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED)
  12. Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Advancement (YIAGA)
  13. Protest to Power
  14. Centre for Democratic Research and Training (CRDDERT)
  15. Organisations of Trade Unions of West Africa
  16. National Procurement Watch Platform (NPWP)
  17. African centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL)
  18. Borno Coalition for Democracy and Progress (BOCODEP
  19. ​Global Rights
  20. Enough is Enough
  21. Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC}​
  22. Social Action
  23. Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
  24. Girl Child Africa

 

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