The National Human Rights Commission has appealed to Nigerians to support the Human Rights Fund which remains unfunded till date.
Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr Tony Ojukwu SAN stated this on Tuesday in Abuja during an awareness walk organised in partnership with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC), funded by the European Union and implemented by International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) to commemorate the International Human Rights Day.
Ojukwu urged Nigerians to contribute to the promotion of human rights by donating their resources.
Speaking to reporters, the Executive Secretary underscored the need for Nigerians to recognise that protecting human rights was a collective responsibility that goes beyond government efforts alone.
He lauded RoLAC for its valuable support, which he said helped ensure the programme’s success.
Ojukwu said: “We need resources, because all these things cannot be done without resources. The government is trying, but they can do a lot better, they can do a lot more. And also note that it is not only for the government to assist in addressing human rights violations.
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“Private individuals, companies, can also donate. It doesn’t have to be cash, they can donate equipment. They can donate computers, they can donate laptops, they can donate vehicles. They can donate facilities, tables, chairs, all those kinds of things, they all help.
“So we call upon Nigerians to see addressing rights of Nigerians as a common problem, not only to be left to the government. There is a Human Rights Fund, nobody has donated one naira to that fund. Why can’t we have a lot of private individuals in this country that can afford to donate M100 million, and it will not mean anything to them.?”
Chairman, Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission, Dr. Salamatu Suleiman said commemoration of human rights day should not be confined to one day but celebrated everyday.
She said emphasis must be placed on out-of-school children, stressing that if they are educated, it will eliminate vices in the society.
The International Human Rights Day is celebrated annually on December 10 to commemorate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
It is the highpoint of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence which commenced on November 25.