Sixteen days of activism to commemorate the 2022 International Human Rights Day came to an end on Saturday in Abuja.
Speaking at the end of awareness walk which commenced at the Eagle Square and terminated at the National Human Rights Commission headquarters in Abuja, Chairman of the NHRC governing council, Dr. Salamatu Suleiman said there is no better time than now for the message of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
She noted that the UDHR message is a document to resonate more in a world which is constantly threaten by so many divisible factors among several frontlines such as religion, poverty, pandemics, terrorism, mclimate change, insurgency.
According to Suleiman, the NHRC as a national institution established for the promotion and protection of human rights in Nigeria, this year’s celebration amplifies the plight of over 133 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty including children the highest number in the world.
“The millions of our brothers and sisters internally displaced by Conflicts and floods across the country, the thousands of women and children survivals on Gender Based violence are challenges that requires solutions by all of us” she said.
She further said “As we mark this day, it is important to remind ourselves of the significance of the day, it is a day set aside by the United Nations for protection of values of human life, dignity, quality and freedom of all human beings regardless of our perculiar circumstances.
“Though races and skin colour May differ, the brotherhood of human race must stand. There is no better time than now for the message of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a milestone document to resonate more with us in a world which is constantly threatening by so many divisible factors among several frontlines such as religion, poverty, pandemics, terrorism, climate change, insurgency.
She explained tha the theme for this year’s celebration “dignity, freedom and Justice for all” should as a matter of necessity be taken as a clarion call to all human family to remember that the quest for peace, freedom and Justice and other solutions to our troubled world should always come to mind.
Also speaking, Tony Ojukwu, Executive Secretary of the Human Rights commission reminded the audience of the significance of the day.
“This year is very significant because it is the year preceding the 75th anniversary of the Universal declaration of human rights, as we enter into this decade, we must recommit ourselves to fighting for dignity of others, to fighting for freedom of all and give access to Justice to all.
“We have increasing numbers of violations going on in the country, as a result of insecurity, we have more challenges in our hand. Am very optimistic that as we celebrate, we have at the back of our mind the fact that we must assist others to also enjoy their own freedom”.
Ojukwu commended the governing council for the way they have stood out in fighting for rights of Nigerians and staff of NHRC.
