Tag: human rights

  • UN expert seeks adoption of human rights declaration

    A United Nations (UN) Inde-pendent Expert on Human Rights and International Solidarity, Prof Obiora Okafor, has called for the adoption of the Declaration on Human Right to International Solidarity.

    He made the call while addressing the 72nd UN General Assembly for the first time under his new mandate.

    Okafor was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to develop, promote, and shepherd the adoption of a draft declaration on the right of peoples and individuals to international solidarity.

    The mandate was created in 2005 by the predecessor of the Council (the United Nations Commission on Human Rights).

    In 2014, the Council extended the mandate for a period of three years.  It further extended the mandate by another three years this year, and appointed Prof Okafor as the Independent Expert.

    Speaking on the draft declaration on the right to International Solidarity, Okafor told the UN: “This document is the result of years of research and thoughtful consideration by those who have held this mandate before me, as well as significant input from states, civil society, and leading scholars.

    “It is an extraordinary document, which presents a genuine practical tool for the expansion of international solidarity and human rights around the world, with the ultimate goal of realising what was promised by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: a social and international order in which all human rights and fundamental freedoms can be realised.”

    Recognising that resources are key to sustainable development, Okafor told the UN that the Draft Declaration builds on existing human rights law requiring states to mobilise resources for the realisation of human rights, including through international cooperation and assistance.

    He referred to Aticle 2 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Article 4 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and Article 32 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

    Prof Okafor emphasised the human rights-based international cooperation and an approach to international finance agreements that is consistent with human rights standards.

    He urged all states to incorporate the vision of the Draft Declaration as they strive for the completion of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 Agenda, in order to create a partnership that is truly global, as well as development that is truly sustainable.

    By committing to prepare a road map, Okafor promised to assist states in the process of the adoption of the Draft Declaration by the Human Rights Council and by the General Assembly.

    Prof Okafor is also the York Research Chair in International and Transnational Legal Studies (Senior Tier) and a tenured Full Professor of Law at the Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, Toronto, Canada.

    A former Chairperson of the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee, he has held the Gani Fawehinmi Distinguished Chair in Human Rights Law at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS).

    He has served as a Visiting Professor at a number of universities and institutes around the world, and was conferred with the Award of Academic Excellence of the Canadian Association of Law Teachers in 2010 and the Gold Medal for Exceptional Research and Major Contributions to Jurisprudence by NIALS 2013.

     

  • Intersections of human rights and business

    Text of a paper delivered by Prof A. D. Badaiki at the African Bar Association (AFBA) yearly conference in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    Moreover, by the principle of participation, transnational corporations are under an obligation to promote and respect citizens’ rights. These corporations intervene or legal entities as IMF and the World Bank intervened on their behalf in the affairs of other States.

    With respect to the second assumption, most nation states are parties to binding international treaties on human rights. Accordingly, states deny violating treaty-recognised international human rights, meaning denying contravening terms of the treaties, or customary international law or general state practice or the general principles of law recognised by civilised nations. To say therefore that the states or governments “remain the sole enforcer of human rights is spurious and disdainful”[25].

    It is clear from the legal framework, international, regional and domestic, that both States and non-state actors especially in this context, business enterprises, have a duty to protect, respect and fulfill or grant access to remedy in business – related human rights violations. It is true that most of the human rights instruments impose these duties on national governments. Some of these instruments address nation states and require national government to establish and enforce legal framework for the protection of human rights.[26]

     

    Conclusion

    Business enterprises profoundly impact on the human rights of various stakeholders including employees, consumers, communities, and even business owners, wherever they operate. These impacts may be positive, such as increasing access to employment, improving public services or boosting exploits, or negative, such as underpaying workers, polluting the environment, or forcibly evicting communities. This paper discussed the instruments that have been put in place by international institutions and national governments to ascribe responsibility to companies in managing these adverse effects in terms of violation of human rights. Both hard laws and non binding soft laws were discussed. The abidingness of the former on both States and business enterprises including corporations is not in doubt as to their obligations to protect, respect and fulfill human rights. It is in the case of the latter that the state and companies are not bound as such instruments are voluntary codes of conduct (VCCs) under the name of corporate – social responsibility. It is shown that the couching of the UN Guiding principles on Business and Human Rights somewhat evoke obligations of States and business enterprises to uphold human rights. The Guiding Principles clarify what is expected of business enterprises with regard to human rights and outline the process through which companies can identify their negative human rights impacts and demonstrate that their policies and procedures are adequate to address them. The Guiding Principles affirm that business enterprises must prevent, mitigate and, where appropriate, remedy human rights abuses that they cause or contribute to.

    On the whole, there is no denying the fact of intersection of business with human rights. The real challenge is how to align the actions of State and business enterprises with the obligations to protect, respect and fulfill human rights. It is recommended that a binding code in the form of the botched “UN norms on the Responsibility of the Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with regard to Human Rights” should be formulated and endorsed. Investment liberalisation should be accompanied by measures to balance State and investors interest with human rights bearers. Accordingly, the promotion and protection of human rights should be included among the objectives of investment or agreements. There should be regular assessment of the extent to which business enterprises are promoting and protecting human rights. States should recognise their rights and duties to regulate and exercise such even in the context of privatisation. There should also be increase in dialogue on human rights and business enterprises. The curriculum on, and indeed, the teaching of Human Rights Law should incorporate the all important topic of the intersections of human rights and business.

     

  • Intersections of human rights and business

    Intersections of human rights and business

    Text of a paper delivered by Prof A. D. Badaiki at the African Bar Association (AFBA) yearly conference in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    •Continued from September 19

    ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy and the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work

    Both the ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy and the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work set forth standards for corporations, other business enterprises, their officers and persons working for them. The ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work was adopted in 1998. It restates the four fundamental ILO principles concerning (a) freedom of association and collective bargaining, (b) forced or compulsory labour, (c) child labour and (d) workplace discrimination. The Declaration requests that all parties should reaffirm these principles and promote their application in light of the “urgent” situation of growing economic interdependence. It also refers to the need to give special attention to the unemployed and migrants of whom amongst the latter category women comprise the largest segment, especially as States often do not include migrant workers in their labour standards.

    OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises 2000

    OECD guidelines for Multinational Enterprises 2000 (OECD guidelines) are joint recommendations by the OECD[16] to multinational enterprises operating in or from their territories for observance in view of the need of the adhering governments to maintain public order, to protect their essential security interests and to fulfill commitments relating to international peace and security. The OECD Guidelines provide voluntary principles and standards for responsible business conduct consistent with applicable laws and government policies. This is against the background that governments have the right to prescribe the conditions under which multinational enterprises operate within their jurisdiction, subject to international law. In relation to human rights, the OECD Guidelines state that enterprises should respect the human rights of those affected by their activities consistent with the host governments’ international obligations and commitments.

    It is commendable that many enterprises have responded to these public concerns by developing internal programmes, guidance and management systems that underpin their commitment to good corporate citizenship, good practices and good business and employee conduct. Observance of the OECD guidelines are, nevertheless, voluntary and not legally enforceable. Moreover, membership of OECD excludes all African countries.

     UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights

    The most pervasive and useful rules, though also soft laws and not hard laws, on the responsibility of business enterprises to uphold human rights norms are enshrined in the Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights 2011. These rules were endorsed on 11th June, 2011 by the United Nations Human Rights Council. These became a new set of extant guiding principles setting a global standard for preventing and addressing the risk of adverse impacts on human rights linked to business activity. It is an update of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. Prior to the adoption of the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights, a Sub-Commission of the UN Commission on Human Rights, in 2004, unsuccessfully attempted to get approval for the “UN Norms on the Responsibility of Transnational Corporations and Other Businesses with regard to Human Rights”[17].

    By the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights, three types of obligations were endorsed and developed: Duty to protect, duty to respect and duty to remedy.

    (i)       The state Duty to Protect Human Rights: This requires that states have the duty under international human rights law to protect everyone within their territories and/or jurisdictions from human rights abuses committed by business enterprises. The obligation means that States must take appropriate steps to have effective laws, regulations and policies to prevent, investigate and punish/redress business-related human rights abuses, and ensure access to effective remedy for those whose rights have been abused. Policies are required to be coherent. States must also create a regulatory environment that facilitates business respect for human rights. The laws and policies must support an appropriate adjudicatory system for the purpose of getting redress[18]. The Guiding Principles recommend that States set clear expectations that companies domiciled in their territories/jurisdictions respect human rights in every country and context in which they operate. It is further stipulated that States (home or host) should provide guidance, assistance and enforcement mechanism to ensure that business enterprises are not involved with abuses in conflict affected areas.

    (ii)  The Corporate Duty to Respect Human Rights: Business enterprises should respect human rights. The obligation entails obligations not to interfere with the enjoyment of human rights. The responsibility to respect applies to all internationally recognised human rights expressed in the International Bill of Human Rights and the International Labour Organisation Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

    Guideline 11 of part two (II) states that this means that business enterprises should avoid infringing on the human rights of others and should address adverse human rights impacts with which they are involved. Business enterprises have the responsibility to respect human rights wherever they operate and whatever their size, sector or industry, structures, responsibility, ownership and operational context. This responsibility means that companies must know their actual or potential impacts, prevent and mitigate abuses, and address adverse impacts with which they are involved. Companies must therefore know and show that they respect human rights in all their operations. They are required to carry out human rights due diligence.

    Furthermore, it is clarified under the Guidelines that the corporate responsibility to respect human rights exists independently of States’ ability or willingness to fulfill their duty to protect human rights. Importantly, no matter the context, States and business retain these distinct but complementary responsibilities[19].

    To meet the responsibility to respect, business enterprises must have the necessary policies and processes in place. Three components of this responsibility are stipulated by the Guiding Principles. First, companies must institute a policy commitment to meet the responsibility to respect human rights. Second, they must undertake ongoing human rights due diligence to identify, prevent, mitigate and account for their human rights impacts. Human rights due diligence should include assessments of internal procedures and systems, as well as external engagement with groups potentially affected by its operations. Human rights diligence refers to the process of identifying and addressing the human rights impacts of a business enterprise across its operations and products, and throughout its supplier and business partner networks. It is provided that companies should integrate the findings of the human rights due diligence processes into policies and procedures at the appropriate level, with resources and authority assigned. Companies should verify that this objective is achieved by constantly monitoring and evaluating their efforts. Companies should also communicate how they address human rights impact, including to those groups most likely to be affected. Third, companies must have processes in place to enable remediation for any adverse human rights impacts they cause or contribute to. Where businesses identify that they have caused or contributed to adverse impacts, they should co-operate in remediation through legitimate processes.

    (iii)  Duty to Provide Access to Remedy: This is a duty on the state as well as business enterprises. The tenet of this duty is consistent with a fundamental human rights system that when a right is violated, victims must have access to an effective remedy[20]. It is also an aspect of the State obligation to protect business-related human rights. The State duty to provide access to effective remedy entails the State taking some measures and refraining from taking some measures. The duty requires the State to take appropriate steps to ensure that State-based domestic judicial mechanisms effectively address business-related human rights abuses. It also requires the state to provide effective and appropriate non-judicial grievance mechanisms with the capacity to hear and adjudicate business-related human rights complaints. On the other hand, there is a responsibility on the part of the State not to erect barriers such as administrative fees or lack of language interpreters that prevent victims from presenting their cases.

    As regards business enterprises, the Guiding Principles stipulate that business enterprises should provide for, or participate in, effective mechanisms for fielding and addressing grievances from individuals and communities who may be adversely impacted by the company’s operations. A list of effectiveness criteria for State-based or company-based non-judicial grievance mechanisms. These are that grievance mechanisms should be legitimate, accessible, predictable, equitable and rights-compatible. Such criteria should provide genuine remedies for victims of human rights violations by companies and must not be mere communications or political exercises. It is required that operational – level mechanisms should be based on engagement and dialogue with the stakeholder groups whose rights they seek to remedy.

    The Guiding Principles further stipulate that multi stakeholder and other collaborative initiatives based on human rights – related standards can also contribute to providing effective access to remedy.

    Implementation of the Guiding Principles: For purposes of implementation of the Guiding Principles, there is a five-man U.N. Working Group on Business and Human Rights. They are experts and with a three-year term. Aside from discussing trends and challenges in the implementation of the Guiding Principles, the Group also promote dialogue, co-operation and sharing of good practices.

    (b)   Regional Instruments

    Relevant laws and institutions on human rights exist at African regional level. These are in the form of Treaties, Protocols, Declarations, Resolutions, policies and programmes establishing supranational laws and institutions in Africa as a whole or sectionally. They include the following:

    AU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa (1969) which entered into force in 1974.

    African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (1981) which entered into force in 1984.

    African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (1990) which entered into force in 1999.

    Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community (1991) which entered into force in 1994.

    Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples Rights (1998) which entered into force in 2004.

    OAU Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism (1999) which entered into force in 2002.

    Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (2003) which entered into force in 2005; and

    Protocol of the Court of Justice of the African-Union (2003).

    There are also several institutions for the enforcement of human rights at regional levels in Africa. At least over ten supranational organisations in Africa have provisions in their Treaties/Protocols for the establishment of some form of regional courts[21]. Consequently, the following regional courts, among others, exist:

    African Union Court of Justice, AUCJ located at East Africa (unspecified yet).

    African Court on Human and Peoples Rights, ACHPR operating from Arusha, Tanzania (which is now being proposed to be merged with the AUCJ).

    Ecowas Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS OCJ located at Abuja, Nigeria.

    Arab Maghreb Union Instance Justiciare, AMUIJ located at Nouakchott, Mauritania.

    HADA CCIA located at Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

    West Africa Economic and Monetary Union Community Court of Justice WAEMU CCJ located at Ouagadougou, Bokina Faso.

    East African Community Court of Justice, EAC CJ located at Arusha, Tanzania.

    Southern African Development Tribunal, SADC Tribunal located at Windhoek, Namibia.

    Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Community Court of Justice COMESA CCJ located at Khartoum, Sudan.

    CEMAC CCJ located at N’Djamena, Chad etc.

    (c)       Domestic/National Instruments

    The UDHR and the European Convention for the Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms influenced many countries to include international human rights norms in their Constitutions and some other statutes. Throughout Africa there are various provisions on human rights in the respective constitutions, statutes and regulations as well as application of several treaties and protocols of supranational organisations. In Nigeria, for instance, chapter four of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) provides for fundamental human rights. There is also the Human Rights Commission Act[22] which enabled the establishment of National Human Rights Commission. For purposes of enforcement, the relevant rules are enshrined in the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009. Under the Constitution the High Court is vested with the jurisdiction to determine human rights cases. South Africa took a step forward in the establishment of human rights promotion institutions especially the Constitutional Court and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

     A critique

    The usefulness of the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights is that, notwithstanding that they constitute soft laws, the principles prescribed for business enterprises are tantamount to prompting and can prompt business enterprises to human rights friendly business environment. This is not to undermine the avalanche of human rights violations by corporations in respect of such rights as rights at work, right to clean environment, right to freedom of association, right to health, right to life and right to development. These are exacerbated by poverty and capability deprivation to access to justice engendered by poverty, ignorance, cultural impediments, political factors, corruption and lack of enabling environment for the enjoyment of human rights.

    In encouraging foreign investments, the actions of government often affect positively or negatively the environmental and human rights standards such as freedom of association and freedom of speech to attract investment. This “race – to – the bottom” practice prevails in the context of Economic Processing Zones (EPZ). The argument for this practice may not be convincing as it encourages violations of human rights, by business enterprises where adequate complimentary policies are non existent.

    The action of investors can affect the enjoyment of human rights depending on how investors and government manage investment together. The cases of the Ogoni people in Rivers State of Nigeria under the ACHPR, and Myanmar are germane.

    In view of the emphasis on state responsibility to establish and observe human rights by international human rights instruments, there are sometimes some obnoxious assumptions. The first assumption is that non-state actors as corporations can violate human rights and are not bound and capable of enforcing human rights. The second assumption is that thrusting the State with the responsibility to respect human rights cannot guarantee an effective enforcement in a globalised world. As regards the first assumption, international human rights instruments recognise specific human rights, for example, slavery and forced labour that can be violated by non-state actors. In addition, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights[23] imposes a duty on every individual and organ of society to secure the universal recognition and observance of these rights[24]. The Maastricht Guidelines on Violations of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (“the Maastricht Guidelines”) stipulate that “entities insufficiently regulated by States” are capable of violating economic, social and cultural rights”.

    •To be continued next week

  • Intersections of human rights and business

    Intersections of human rights and business

    Text of a paper delivered by Prof A. D. Badaiki at the African Bar Association (AFBA) annual conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    Business and business associations are generally associated with pursuit of the interests of investors and profitability. Business associations very often, pursue their own economic self-interest regardless of the harmful consequences they might cause to others. Such an unbridled self-interest can culminate in violation of human rights. With increased tempo of deregulation and even privatisation, the risk of human rights infractions are accentuated. The victims of human rights violations in business transactions include the investors (shareholders and creditors) themselves, directors, employees, customers and even the society itself. With globalisation of modern business and extensive developments of human rights, there has been an increased public awareness of the social and environmental costs of business especially by multinational corporations. Human rights compliance by business organisations has therefore become a critical issue. This is particularly so in view of the requirements of the 2011 United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). Businesses are required to have human rights policies, to carry out due diligence in all their operations and supply chains, and to ensure that there is redress. Accordingly, business and regulatory world alike have adopted the UNGPs as legal rather than hitherto moral rules. This paper focuses on the intersection of business and human rights and make recommendations on how to avoid causing or contributing to adverse human rights impacts and escape liability for human rights violations.

    Introduction

    In many ways business associations, especially corporations, “govern our lives”[1]. They play a positive role in contributing to the economic development and general prosperity of a nation[2]. By the nature of their general pathological pursuit of profit and power and investor protection objectives, many corporations and individuals within the corporation commit and even sometimes grave human rights abuses in different business situations in which such corporations and individuals are duty-bearers. In view of the clamour, especially by developing countries, for foreign investment to stimulate meaningful economic development, it becomes imperative therefore to strike a balance between corporate business behavior and human rights. Aside from corporations’ self-regulatory internal rules that may exist, there is the more important necessity to regulate, at national and supranational levels, activities of corporations in order to prevent, protect and respect human rights as well as remedy human rights violations in the complex stream of intersection of human rights and business in a globalised eco-legal order. This paper focuses on the types of obligations that are imposed on State and such Non-State Actors as corporations and other business entities to observe human rights. It will refer to the human rights that can and are commonly violated while corporations and entities carry out business. It will also identify the instruments for formulation and enforcement of human rights norms in business, and offer a critique of the level of corporate accountability for respect for human rights.

    Meaning and classification of human rights

     The concept of human rights has been viewed from different perspectives – normative, legal, philosophical, political, religious and cultural. The Black’s Law Dictionary defines human rights as the freedoms, immunities, and benefits that, according to modern values (especially at an international level), all human beings should be able to claim as a matter of right in the society in which they live[3]. A number of definitions have been proffered by scholars. Louis Henkin defines human rights as: claims which every individual has, or should have, upon the society in which she or he lives. To call them human rights suggests that they are universal; they are the due of every being in every human society. They do not differ with geography or do not depend on gender or race, class or status. To call them ‘rights’ implies that they are claims ‘as of rights’ not merely appeals to grace, or charity or brotherhood or love; they need not be earned or deserved. They are more than aspirations or assertion of ‘the good’ but claims of entitlement and corresponding obligation in some political order under some applicable law if only in a moral order under a moral law… When used carefully, ‘human rights are not some abstract, inchoate ‘good’. The rights are particular, defined, and familiar, reflecting respect for individual autonomy, as well as a common sense of justice and injustice[4].

    Umozurike defines human rights as: claims, which are invariably supported by ethics and which should be supported by law, made on society, especially on its official managers, by individuals or groups on the basis of humanity. They apply regardless of race, colour, sex or other distinction and may not be withdrawn or denied by governments, people or individuals. They may also be defined in terms of individual self-interest. They are those rights which every individual claims or aspires to enjoy irrespective of his colour, race, religion, status in life, etc. The most rabid or despotic violator of the human rights of others jealously guards his own rights. The problem in human rights is extending the same recognition, enjoyment and esteem for ourselves to others. The true standard of a society may be determined from the level of adherence of its members, especially the rulers, to the principles of human rights. They may lead themselves to specialties while retaining their universality[5].

    Similarly, Eze’s definition refers to human rights as representing demands or claims which individuals or groups make on society, some of which are protected by law and have become part of the lex lata while others remain aspirations in the future[6]. The definition brings out the distinction between human rights protected by law and those which are acknowledged but remain aspirations to be met in the future. Erugo correctly pointed out that the definition gives a lead to understanding the varying positions and the practice of international human rights norms in different societies[7]. Like the other definitions, this definition is universalist and has positive outlook. However, Ezejiofor‘s similar universalist definition of human rights appears to be rooted in natural law thinking. He defined human rights as ‘moral rights which every human being everywhere at all times, ought to have, simply because of the fact that in contradistinction with other beings, he is rational and moral’[8].

    All these definitions are an expression of the classical theory that only the rights of human beings, but not those of groups or entities, can be human rights. In view of human rights norms that have been evolved by developing countries as encompassing collective rights, a definition of human rights cannot be limited to individuals as right-bearers. Most of such collective rights as the rights to clean environment, development, self-determination, peace and freedom of groups from genocide, and humanitarian assistance are protected under some human rights instruments. Articles 19-24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) provide for peoples’ rights such as the right to self-determination; right to development; national and international peace and security; and the right to a general satisfying environment favourable to development. Human rights can therefore safely be defined generally as inalienable claims or entitlements which a person has because he is a human being, and which a group of individuals or communities enjoy under certain circumstances.

    Human rights are traditionally or commonly categorised into generations. The ‘first generation’ rights or liberty-oriented rights such as civil and political rights. The ‘second generation’ rights or security-oriented rights consisting of economic, social and cultural rights. The ‘third generation’ or group rights is also known as ‘solidarity’ human rights. Human rights are also classified into fundamental or basic rights, auxiliary or subsidiary rights. The classification of human rights should not be regarded as hierarchic in importance, or divisible, but as a construction of emergence of the different rights in different historical periods[9]. Never in a straight-jacket; human rights are interrelated and interdependent in their relevance and realisation.

    Instruments for formulation and enforcement of human rights norms in business

     There are several international, regional and domestic instruments for formulation and enforcement of human rights norms, many of which norms are relevant and applicable to business setting and the understanding of the nature of the intersection between human rights and business.

     International Instruments

    The relevant international instruments set standards of human rights for promotion and protection by the comity of nations. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which is the first International Bill of Rights is borne out of the widespread conviction by nations, from the experience of the Second World War, that effective protection of human rights was one of the essential conditions of international peace and progress. The UDHR was adopted and proclaimed by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on 10th December, 1948: as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.

    Some of the inadequacies in the human rights provisions of the UN Charter, for example, absence of precise definition of human rights and general nature of the legal obligation necessitated supplementing the Charter by subsequent international instruments and adoption of covenants giving more specific content to rights protected and providing more sophisticated enforcement procedures.

    In the preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the essence of the Declaration is stated to be “the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations”. The preamble further states the fundamental principle underlying the rights listed in the Declaration to be the “inherent dignity, and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family”. Similarly, Article 1 of the Declaration expresses the universality of rights in terms of the equality of human dignity.

    Two broad kinds of rights are proclaimed in the Declaration. The first category refers to civil and political rights consisting of the right to life, liberty, and security of person; freedom from slavery and torture; equality before the law; protection against arbitrary arrest, detention or exile; the right to a fair trial; the right to own property; political participation; the right to marriage; fundamental freedoms of thought, conscience and religion, opinion and expression; freedom of peaceful assembly and association; the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives[10]. The second category are economic, social and cultural rights, which include the right to work, equal pay for equal work; the right to form and join trade unions; the right to adequate standards of living; the right to education; and the right to participate freely in cultural life[11].

    Although the UDHR falls into the category of “soft law”, that is, not legally binding, its standards are principles which are respected by all nations as they have universal acceptance; and many countries have incorporated the provisions of the Declaration in their constitutions[12].

    Apart from the UDHR, both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) also recognise private obligations in their preambles, which is stated in the following terms: ‘the individual having duties to other individuals and to the community of which he belongs, is under a responsibility to strive for the promotion and observance of the rights recognised in the present Covenant[13]. Another often cited reference to the human rights obligations of business corporations is the reaffirmation by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) in its General Comment No. 14, that while only States are parties to the Covenant and thus ultimately accountable for compliance with it, “all members of society – individuals…, as well as the private business sector – have responsibilities regarding the realisation of the rights to health…”.

    However, there are non-binding instruments, or so called ‘soft law’, such as the UN Global Compact 2000, the ILO Tripartite[14] Declaration of principles Concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, the Declaration of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the Organisation for Economic and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises 2000, the UN Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights 2011. Notably, the earlier ‘UN Norms on the Responsibility of Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with regard to Human Rights 2004, were opposed and abandoned in 2005.

     UN Global compact

     The UN Global Compact was adopted as a UN initiative to encourage businesses worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies, and to report on their implementation. The UN Global Compact is a principle-based framework for businesses, which stipulates ten principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption. When, however, the Global Compact was adopted in June 1998, announced on 31st January, 1999 and officially launched on 26th July, 2000, the Compact set forth only nine principles derived from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ILO Tripartite Declaration on the Environment and Development. On June 24, 2004, during the first Global Compact Summit, the then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced the addition of the tenth principle against corruption in accordance with the United Nations Convention against Corruption adopted in 2003. Under the Global Compact, companies are brought together with UN agencies, labour groups and civil society. Cities can join the Global Compact through the Cities programme.

    The UN Global Compact is the world’s largest corporate sustainability (a.k.a. corporate social responsibility) initiative with 13,000 corporate participants and other stakeholders over 170 countries. It has two objectives, first, to “mainstream the ten principles in business activities around the world”, and second to “catalyse actions in support of broader UN goals, such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.

    Of the 10 principles of UN Global Compact, two (principles 1 and 2) intersect human rights with businesses. Principle 1 provides that businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights, and principle 2 states that businesses should make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses. Four (principles 3, 4, 5 and 6) are on labour standards that businesses should uphold. Principles 3, 4, 5 and 6 stipulate respectively that businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour; the effective abolition of child labour; and the elimination of discrimination in employment and occupation. Principles 7, 8 and 9 which are on environment require that businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges, undertake initiatives to promote environmental responsibility; and encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies. The last principle (principle 10) which deals with corruption is to the effect that businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.

    The principles in the UN Global Compact are not imperative rules. Moreover, the UN Global Compact is not a regulatory instrument, but rather a forum for discussion and a network for communication including governments, companies and labour organisations, whose actions it seeks to influence, and civil society organisations, representing its stakeholders. As mentioned by the Compact’s Executive Director, Lise Kingo in an interview in 2015, “we are the guide dogs, not the watchdogs”. By implication, the UN Global Contact is non-committed and does not enforce discipline. It lacks mechanisms for sanctioning non-compliance or lack of progress. To some extent, companies can misuse the Global Compact as a public relations instrument for “blue wash”. Blue washing refers to the alleged practice of companies claiming their membership or participation in philanthropic and charity- based activity as an excuse and perhaps as an entry door to increase corporate influence upon international organisations[15]. Its usefulness lies mainly, though not exclusively, on it providing resources and support, and serves as a channel for providing facilitation, and encourages policy dialogues, learning, local networks and projects.

    •To continued next week

  • Nigeria Police, corruption and human rights

    The Nigeria Police Force was established not for the purpose of business but for protecting the lives and properties of the citizens. But with what is obtainable today, it seems that the main aim of its establishment has been either rejected, abandoned or forgotten. Maybe the aim of the Force has been changed in the modern times since it was established in 1930, who knows?

    The abstract belief is that police is the friend of the people. In fact, the motto of the police is: “The police are your friends’’. Wait, whose friend?

    One doubts the authenticity and reliability of this motto with the way and manner the Nigeria Police performs its duty. The notion of an average citizen or almost all Nigerians is that: police is the greatest enemy of the citizens. They have caused more evil than good to people.

    If one is to study corruption in Nigeria, the Nigerian Police Force should be the leading case-study. On the infringement of fundamental human rights, the police are always on top of the list. For convenience, there is need, therefore, to discuss the two highlighted issues one after the other.

    On the issue of corruption, the Nigeria Police Force is not left out. The truth is even that, the synonym of corruption is the Nigerian Police. The whole system seems to be very corrupt. When those meant to fight ‘corruption’ are also very corrupt, what is expected of such body? To deliver the expected goods? What even amazes me the most is that, the process of recruiting candidates into the force is corrupt and that is a more reason why it is having the serious problems today.

    Many of the men who are into the Force are there, not because of the passion they have for the job, but for the extra gain that comes from it. The policemen seem to have metamorphosed the force to a business concern. Their main aim is no more to do their job but to make financial profit into their tattered pockets. They extort vehicle drivers and even threaten their owners. They waste people’s time without any good reason. What they need is just a token of N50 or N100. In fact, our roads have been “nairalised’’. No naira, no thoroughfare – this is just a total sorry case!

    Whether we believe this or not, that is the way they operate. To keep your soul from trouble, one just needs to ‘settle’ these men in black. If not, things funny can happen. There have been series of cases where police that are meant to fight criminal activities in the society are caught involving themselves in the same ridiculous act. It is no more news; it is known to all and sundry. We have heard news of how policemen cut-short the lives of those that have refused to bribe them. Uncountable cases of how the police have being colliding with criminals; all because of money. Many a times, criminals have been operating successfully due to the corruption spirit in the police. Once they are ‘settled’ they forget about the main purpose why they are on duty.

    Our police stations are the home of corruption too. No one visits the police station without dropping something. In fact, to get matter settled in your favour, the only thing to do is to be the highest bidder. Where your bid is lower, even if the case in the real sense is in your favour, the highest bidder will always be favoured. Virtually all the DPOs are aware of these corrupt acts – they all share the profit in their business; and this is the reason why the police can never be trusted by the common man. This indicates the fact that the Nigeria Police Force looks very much like a business concern with the way things are done.

    On the area of human rights, they are the key violators of rights. One of the functions of the police is to serve as the agent of government protecting people’s rights. What is seen in Nigeria is a very different case. The policemen violate the rights of citizens than any other institution. They are just too inhumane. They have killed, injured and dehumanized many without apology and with immunity. Without respecting the provision of the constitution pertaining to fundamental rights, they encroach on people’s rights in public.

    No doubt, the Police have, at least, some responsible officers. There are men and women of transparent honesty and proven integrity, but they are only few. And since the good percentage of the Force are all guilty of the charges levied above, there is need for the overhauling. You know, when palm oil is splashed on a part of a white handkerchief, the handkerchief completely loses its usefulness.

    First, government needs to finance and improve the Force. Mere seeing some policemen, at times, one just need to “settle’’ them because they look so ‘hungry’ and a hungry man is an angry man. Some of them wear tattered uniforms. All these signal the fact that the police force is not really catered for and that is why the government needs to do something – as urgent as possible.

    They need to be given training and orientation on what it takes to be a policeman. This is needed because many of them don’t even know what they are really into. They see the Force as a limited liability company that makes profit. This is not so, and many of them are not aware or pretend to be unaware.

     

    • By Dennis Anombem Ikedikwa Soeze
  • Stand up for human rights, SAN urges lawyers

    Prof. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN) has called on lawyers to stand up for the rights of the less privileged.

    He spoke on ‘The Role of Religious Bodies in the Dispensation of Social Justice’ at the annual dinner of the Lagos Diocese of the National Association of Catholic Layers (NACL) last Friday.

    The event was chaired by Professor Pat Utomi and anchored by TV personality Soni Irabor and Chima Ezife.

    Ajogwu  highlighted scriptural injunctions to aid the less privileged, in this case prisoners, and observed that a legal practitioner, by virtue of his profession, is in a natural position to stand up for human rights.

    He enjoined lawyers to take seriously the task of being their brother’s keepers, which is in line with the tenets of the Catholic faith, adding that Catholic lawyers are to regard their admission to the legal profession  not just as a  career, but also a vocation.

    NACL President Geraldine Wey highlighted the role of faith in the lives of Nigerians.

    She said: “One way or another, our faith is a fundamental feature of our lives as Nigerians. Now, how much this impacts positively on our relationship with our neighbour and loyalty to our nation is uncertain.

    “Our role as Catholic lawyers demands that we operate in the arena of social justice and give voice particularly to the voiceless.”

    Deputy Comptroller of the Women’s Prison, Kiri-Kiri, Mrs. Lizzy Ekpendu, called for societal change of mindset towards persons unfortunate to be in prison custody and requested more visits to the Women’s Prison.

    She said: “The Keynote Address laid the foundation for the launch of the adopt-a-prisoner project of the association.

    “By virtue of its calling, the National Association of Catholic Lawyers Lagos Archdiocese does much work in the Prisons and for this purpose has what is called the Prison Action/Pro Bono Committee.

    “From time to time they call for contributions from their members and make formal visits to any of the five prisons in Lagos State stretching from Ikoyi to Badagry.

    “The prison visits and intervention is two-fold, to take provisions to the inmates and to interview the indigent ones who have no legal representation, with a view to assisting them to litigate their matters Pro Bono.”

    She observed that so far, the Prison Action/Pro Bono Committee and a few of their members have borne the expenses.

    Ekpendu added: “The purpose of this project is to engage more volunteers and donors to contribute their resources in terms of legal services and financial support towards the association’s work in Prison Ministry.

    “It is expected that via this project, a partnership between donors and volunteers will be created for the primary purpose of providing for the legal and material welfare of prison inmates in Lagos State thereby achieving a measure of decongestion in the prisons.”

    A guest, Dr Egbert Imomoh, emphasised the need to engage stakeholders particularly the Office of the Attorney-General with a view to carrying out mass prison decongestion.

    The Chairperson of the 2017 Dinner Planning Committee Ande Egbe, expressed hope that the guests both individual and corporate, would be moved to sponsor the project.

    The event which held at the Sir Adetokunbo Ademola Hall at the Lagos Campus of the Nigerian Law School, was reminiscent of the student days when would-be lawyers were required to eat mandatory dinners as a requirement for admission to the Bar.

  • Amnesty slams Australia as country begins UN human rights council bid

    Rights group Amnesty International slammed Australia on Thursday as Foreign Minister Julie Bishop prepared to launch a bid in New York for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council.

    Amnesty International Australia said in a statement that Australia’s bid for the council “glosses over” the country’s issues with refugee, indigenous and asylum-seeker rights.

    Amnesty National Director, Claire Mallinson, said: “It’s not enough to talk the talk in New York, this government must must walk the walk at home.

    “Australia must demonstrate that it would be a principled, effective and accountable Human Rights Council member.”

    Bishop arrived at the UN in New York on Monday.

    Before leaving Australia, she said the country’s campaign for the council “reflects our commitment to working with other nations to find long-term practical solutions to complex human rights challenges.”

    Since 2016, three UN special rapporteurs who have visited Australia to report on racism, indigenous affairs and migrants, have denounced the government for not doing enough on those issues.

    Australia should take the actions recommended by UN experts, Tony Kenyon, president of Australian Lawyers Alliance, said in a statement released Wednesday.

    “As Australia seeks election as a member of the UN Human Rights Council, it must demonstrate its commitment to respecting human rights by implementing the recommendations of UN experts,” Kenyon said.

    The Australian government has been condemned by the UN, rights groups and even an Australian parliamentary inquiry for the detention and deplorable living conditions of refugees and asylum seekers in off-shore processing centres in the Pacific islands.

    Hundreds of detainees, sent to the camps by Australia after they tried to reach the country by boat, have been languishing on Manus Island and Nauru for more than three years.

    The government also has been criticised for not addressing the deteriorating conditions of Aboriginal and indigenous Australians, who are near the bottom across economic and social indicators.

    “The government continues its inherently abusive offshore detention regime, and oversees astronomical rates of indigenous incarceration,” Amnesty said.

    While making up only about three per cent of Australia’s 24 million people, Aboriginal and indigenous Australians make up 27 per cent of the prison population.

    The juvenile detention rate is 24 times higher for indigenous Australians than it is for the non-indigenous, and a report said the incarceration rate for indigenous women has risen nearly 250 per cent since 1991.

    Indigenous Australians also live 10 years shorter than the non-indigenous population, and indigenous infant mortality is twice as high when compared to the rest of the population.

    Employment rates are sliding backwards, with 48.4 per cent of Aborigines in a job in 2014 to 2015, compared to 72.6 per cent for others.

  • Human rights groups and lip service

    SIR: I am miffed about the attention-seeking attitude of the collection of rights groups in Nigeria and make bold to say that they are good at fighting causes that will direct attention to their groups rather than engaging in moves that will make life more abundant for an average Nigeria.

    Months back when a man named his dog Buhari in Sango Ota, more than five human and social rights groups announced that his rights had been trampled upon and that they had taken up his battle.

    The recent seizure of rice, ban on second-hand vehicles, and even the recent opening of Obasanjo’s Presidential Library has gotten their attention. They want the government to see them as credible opposition,  even if based on lip service and attention-seeking only.

    Itinerant traders popularly called Alajapas have, for over four years now, been crying loud that the revenue regime of the Ogun State government is literally killing their business and seriously contributing to high cost of food in our markets.

    For about two years now, they have been on radio stations in Ogun State almost on a daily basis making their case public and asking for help from all Nigerians to appeal to government to do something about illegal and irrelevant tickets on the roads but nobody seems to care.

    It should be understood that any untoward thing done to traders that affects easy trade  is the burden of every Nigerian because it is the masses that will bear the brunt of paying more than they should pay for just a small item.

    Foodstuff and other local farm produce prices are hitting the sky and nobody seems to care.

    I am of the firm belief that human and social rights groups, if actually they are fighting for the masses, should have been at the forefront of any move to save local traders from bad government policies.

    We at the Alajapa Development Committee have done all we could through visits, dialogue and appeal, but it seems the government is not ready to do something to change the undesirable situation.

    If we must save this country, food must be the first item to begin with and the human and social rights groups are just the needed allies.

     

    • Abiodun T. Rauph,

    Sango Ota, Ogun State

  • DHQ flays human rights group’s report

    DHQ flays human rights group’s report

    THE Defence Headquarters yesterday criticised a report presented by a human rights group, Amnesty International, which alleged deaths of 240 people in Borno and 177 pro-Biafran protesters.

    In a statement issued in Abuja, Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, described the allegations as “another in its series of spurious fabrications aimed at tarnishing the good image of the Nigerian military”.

    Rabe said the allegations contained in the report were not only inconceivable, but had no place in the military.

    He described the report as “contrived lies orchestrated to blackmail and ridicule the Nigerian Armed Forces”.

    Rabe said: “It is on record that Amnesty International embarked on such series of false allegations against the Nigerian military and other security forces as far back as the inception of the military action against terrorists in the Northeast.

    “Amnesty International would only encourage activities of non-state actors who take up arms against the state, killing, maiming and destroying public property but would always accuse security forces who are sacrificing everything to restore peace and normalcy.

    “In as much as the Nigerian military acknowledges and respects the views and constructive criticism of individuals, groups or even international organisations, including Amnesty International, it will not fall for nor accept the deliberate falsehood that have no bearing with the fact or reality on ground.”

    The Defence spokesman said the military has always been open in its operations and did not hide its activities from the probing eye of the public.

     Amnesty International, Rabe added, chose to bandy fabricated reports and concocted stories instead of seeking clarifications from the relevant authorities.

    He said the National Human Rights Commission had sent its delegation to seek clarification on issues they were not comfortable with. In each occasion, the DHQ always oblige them with the information they sought, Rabe said.

    “The Nigerian military rejects this AI reports in its entirety and appeals to all well-meaning Nigerians to disregard the report and discountenance its content,” he said.

  • Maltreatment of cripple: Army demotes soldiers

    Maltreatment of cripple: Army demotes soldiers

    The Nigerian Army has demoted two soldiers, Cpl. Bature Samuel and Cpl. Abdulazeez Usman of 82 Provost Company in Onitsha, Anambra, to Private for human rights abuse

    The Nigerian Army spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

    Usman said the demoted soldiers on Feb. 7, maltreated a physically challenged person, Mr Chijioke Uraku, on the street of Onitsha, Anambra, for allegedly wearing Army camouflage uniform,

    Usman said they were arrested, summarily tried on two-count charge and found guilty.

    “Consequently, both have been sentenced to reduction in rank from Corporal to Private Soldiers and 21 days imprisonment with Hard Labour, respectively.

    “It includes forfeiture of 21 days pay to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    “The Nigerian Army has also reached out to the victim of their unjustifiable assault, Mr Chijoke Uraku (alias CJ), as widely reported by the media.

    “We wish to reiterate our avowed determination to ensure that troops conduct themselves in the most orderly and professional manner at all times.

    “Any act of indiscipline would not be tolerated,” he said. (NAN)