Thursday 12 December 2013

HUMAN RIGHT IS MORE OF A RHETHORIC

DECEMBER 10 has been remarked as World Human Rights Day since 1948. The pursuit of human rights was one of the tasks the United Nations gave itself when it was founded three years earlier, on a mission to save the world from wars and their brutalities.

Some examples of abuses that are common in Nigeria:
·   Discriminatory laws against women
·  Discriminatory standards for accessing opportunities
·   Detention of suspects for years without trial
·   Environmental abuses
·   Unrepentant abuse of children, the weak, the elderly
·   Torture of suspects in detention
·   Extra-judicial killings
·   Denial of constitutionally guaranteed liberties like association and free speech
·   Denial of participation in the affairs of government
·   High cost of accessing justice
·   Neglect of ?The security and welfare of the people? which according to Section 14 (2b) of the 1999 Constitution, ?shall be the primary purpose of government.?
A combination of abuses and crushing economic policies result in the excruciating poverty that is visited on Nigerians. Who would save them from rights abuses?
Government officials make the most flowery speeches about human rights. However, many abuses are rooted in their policies that place the majority of the people last. The deceit entailed in being responsible for people’s affliction and making a rigorous lamentation of their plight is another overlooked human right abuse.
The World Human Rights Day for Nigerians should serve more purposes than speeches and ceremonies. The authorities should implement policies that would enhance constitutional rights of Nigerians to better life, which capture the essence of human rights.

Some examples of abuses that are common in Nigeria:
·   Discriminatory laws against women
·  Discriminatory standards for accessing opportunities
·   Detention of suspects for years without trial
·   Environmental abuses
·   Unrepentant abuse of children, the weak, the elderly
·   Torture of suspects in detention
·   Extra-judicial killings
·   Denial of constitutionally guaranteed liberties like association and free speech
·   Denial of participation in the affairs of government
·   High cost of accessing justice
·   Neglect of ?The security and welfare of the people? which according to Section 14 (2b) of the 1999 Constitution, ?shall be the primary purpose of government.?
A combination of abuses and crushing economic policies result in the excruciating poverty that is visited on Nigerians. Who would save them from rights abuses?
Government officials make the most flowery speeches about human rights. However, many abuses are rooted in their policies that place the majority of the people last. The deceit entailed in being responsible for people’s affliction and making a rigorous lamentation of their plight is another overlooked human right abuse.
The World Human Rights Day for Nigerians should serve more purposes than speeches and ceremonies. The authorities should implement policies that would enhance constitutional rights of Nigerians to better life, which capture the essence of human rights.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/12/human-rights-rhetoric/#sthash.lR0TC5Cj.dpuf

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