Human Rights Defenders Bill Gets Mass Support At Reps’ Public Hearing

Three groups, the Hope Behind Bars Africa (HBBA), Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) and Accountability Lab and others have endorsed the proposed Human Rights Defenders Bill (HB 1867), describing it as timely and necessary.

The groups made their position known at a public hearing on the Human Rights Defenders Bill (HB 1867) and the National Human Rights Commission Bill, 2025 (HB 2376), organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Human Rights.

In a joint memorandum presented at the hearing, the groups described the bill as the first comprehensive legislative effort in Nigeria specifically designed to protect human rights defenders (HRDs).

The memorandum, jointly signed by the three organisations and read by the executive director and founder of Hope Behind Bars Africa, Oluwafunke Adeoye, commended the committee for convening a technical review session in December 2025.

They described the session as evidence of a shared commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s protection framework for HRDs.

While supporting the bill, the groups highlighted concerns raised during deliberations on Section 3, particularly regarding perceived operational burdens on state institutions and questions about implementation feasibility.

To address these concerns, they recommended that Section 21(2) be formally cross-referenced within Section 3 to reinforce internal coherence and clarify that the obligations outlined are neither standalone nor excessive.

According to the memorandum, such a cross-reference would strengthen the bill’s structural consistency, clarify the legal foundation of Section 3 obligations, and reduce interpretative ambiguity. They stressed that the recommendation does not alter the substance of the bill but serves as a technical refinement aimed at improving clarity and institutional buy-in.

The organisations also proposed the introduction of defined timelines in key sections of the bill, particularly Sections 28, 32, and 33, which deal with investigations, protection, and assistance to HRDs.

In addition, the civil society organisations (CSOs) urged the committee to include an illustrative, though non-exhaustive, list of persons who qualify as human rights defenders, either within the definition section or as a schedule to the bill.

The suggested categories include human rights lawyers, investigative journalists, trade union leaders, student activists, digital rights advocates, whistleblowers, women’s rights advocates, environmental defenders, disability rights advocates, election observers, community organisers and traditional leaders resisting harmful practices.

The memorandum noted that such clarification would reinforce that protection under the bill is function-based rather than profession-based, extending coverage to individuals operating formally or informally across urban and rural settings, as well as in digital and physical spaces.

Describing the Human Rights Defenders Bill as a critical step towards strengthening Nigeria’s civic space, the groups said it aligns domestic protections with constitutional and international human rights standards. They urged the committee to adopt the proposed technical refinements to ensure broader legislative support and durable implementation.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, who declared the public hearing open, said the two bills were timely and necessary.

He said, “The first strives to formally establish and protect the rights of the people or organisations who are at the forefront of advocating for the rights of Nigerians, supporting victims, documenting abuses and demanding accountability.

“The second bill proposes to repeal and reenact the previous law establishing the National Human Rights Commission in order to strengthen its operations, improve its investigative capabilities and ensure its financial integrity in line with the Paris Principles adopted by the United Nations General Assembly,” he said.