The German Bishops Conference’s Organisation for Development Cooperation has urged the Federal Government to find better ways of addressing human rights issues and promote human dignity.
The Head of MISEREOR, Dialogue and Partnership Service, Mr Andreas Kahler, made the appeal at a strategic workshop in Abuja, on “Better ways on human rights promotion and protections”.
Kahler said there was the need for Nigeria to adopt the recent Universal Periodic Review of United Nations (UN) aimed at enhancing Human Rights and protection of Citizens of all Member States.
He said with the outcome from international reports, his organisation discovered the alarming challenges concerning human rights situation in Nigeria.
His words: “With regards to death penalty, prevention against torture, gender and rights of persons living with disabilities, child rights, sexual orientations, corruption, environment, business, countering terrorism, security, rule of law, access to justice and democracy, human trafficking, education and health care.”
He said with a lot of commitment, MISEREOR partners in Nigeria have always been involved in the promotion of human rights.
“Struggling for example, against congested prisons, recently under the heading of criminal Justice Reform, the interconnectedness of good governance, administrative, legal and human rights aspects is quite clear. And our cooperation in Nigeria has lasted almost 60 years, “he said.
Director, Department Women, Children and Vulnerable Groups, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Mr Harry Obe, explained the commission had the mandate to investigate monitor and ensure justice for any victim of human right abuse without constraint from individual or institutional body.
Obe said that according to its constitution, Nigeria is a secular country adding: “the constitution forbids the establishment of a state religion and guarantees the right to freedom of religion.
Speaking on the church and state of service of human rights, the Executive Secretary CARITAS NIgeria, Rev.Fr Uchechukwu Obodoechina, said that the Caritas Nigeria and others have worked over the years to restore human rights and dignity through care for the human person.
Obodoechina said that Caritas have fulfilled this mission by reaching out to men and women, children, youth, and elders of all races and creeds, in particular, the poor and marginalised; providing social services, saving lives, rebuilding and
empowering communities, working for justice and integral human promotion.
“A task that mobilises church leaders at all levels, parish groups including the poor themselves, volunteers and professionals, in collaboration with other civil society actors, public institutions and international institutions.
“At the core of Caritas’ mandate is the imperative to re-elect God’s inner life which is a communion of love. God’s mission is an act of communion of the three Divine Persons.
“The meeting of mission and communion generates the community of the Church which exists to evangelize through charity and the full realisation on of Human Rights guided by the values of solidarity, sharing, co-responsibility, participation , respect and common purpose,” he explained.
For over 50 years MISEREOR has been committed to fighting poverty in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
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