NNHRI-WA to Publish Human Rights Situation Report Of Member States – Ojukwu
By Shola Akingboye -November 2, 2019
The Network of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa (NNHRI-WA) has declared its readiness to henceforth publish comprehensive reports on the human rights situation in its member states.
The immediate past President of NNHRI-WA, Mr. Tony Ojukwu Esq disclosed this in Abuja recently during a formal handover ceremony to the new President of the network, Mr. Joseph Whittal and Chairman Ghana Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice.
Ojukwu who doubled as the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Nigeria, until the expiration of his tenure, stated that the human rights situation report in West Africa is being compiled in conjunction with the ECOWAS Commission, with the support of Member States.
According to the Executive Secretary, the Network succeeded in compiling for eight (8) countries, these reports are now stale and will need to be updated since they cover the period of 2016-2017. The countries are Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo, Ojukwu stated.
He assured the new NNHRI-WA President of the NHRC’s support noting that the Commission has been a pillar of support to the Network which has always risen to the various human rights challenges in the subregion.
Earlier in his remarks, Whittal solicited for the continued cooperation of NHRC, particularly in the areas of contacts of NNHRI-WA partners and other logistics needed for the smooth running of the Network.
He promised to bring his knowledge and wealth of experience in regional and International Human Rights Principles to bear in the administration of the Network.