The National Human Rights Commission NHRC has been elected a member of the Governing Board of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) based in Geneva Switzerland to represent the African region at the Board.
A press statement signed by the Director, Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, Agharese Arase, stated that the elections took place at the 14th Biennial Conference of the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI) which held in Accra Ghana from the 16-20 October, 2023.
In his response, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu said that the GANHRI Bureau is the highest organ for the coordination of National Human Rights Institutions worldwide and revealed that Nigeria’s NHRC has also been elected to the GANHRI working groups on Ageing and Business and Human Rights (BHR).
“Nigeria’s election to these prestigious positions reflects the country’s positive standing on the international human rights stage and underscores its commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights, both at home and abroad”.
“The GANHRI is the legitimate and authentic Network of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) from around the world, established pursuant to UN General Assembly Resolution 48/134 of 20th December 1993 on the Paris Principles for the promotion and protection human rights. It serves as a legitimate and crucial platform for cooperation, information exchange, and advocacy, making Nigeria’s inclusion in the GANHRI Bureau and Working Groups significant achievements”.
“This underscores Nigeria’s active role in addressing the pressing human rights issues related to migration, which has become an area of increasing concern globally, he stated”.
It will be recalled that Nigeria has established the senior citizens center to enhance improvement of the lives of older people. Again the Federal Executive Council recently approved the National Action Plan on Human Rights and Business which makes Nigeria one of the three countries that have developed such plan in Africa.