INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY 2024: CDHR DEMANDS IMMEDIATE ACTION AGAINST INJUSTICES
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) joins the global community in commemorating International Human Rights Day 2024, reaffirming its unwavering commitment to advancing the promotion, protection, and fulfillment of human rights. This year’s theme, “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now,” is a resounding call to action, emphasizing the urgency of ensuring human rights for all to foster a just, inclusive, and sustainable society.
Human Rights: The Foundation for Peace and Progress
Human rights remain the cornerstone of any thriving democracy. They uphold dignity, equality, and freedom, ensuring that no one is excluded based on gender, ethnicity, religion, age, or socio-economic status. In Nigeria, these rights are guaranteed under the Constitution and international treaties to which the country is a signatory. However, the full realization of these rights is hindered by persistent challenges such as insecurity, corruption, inequality, and systemic barriers to justice.
The Urgency of Action
The theme “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now” serves as a stark reminder that the future depends on the actions we take today. Across Nigeria, countless citizens face daily violations of their fundamental rights. These violations range from gender-based violence and lack of access to education and healthcare to the suppression of free speech and marginalization of vulnerable groups. Addressing these injustices requires immediate, decisive action.
Moreover, human rights cannot be separated from broader issues such as climate change, digital equity, and economic instability. The voices of young people, women, and marginalized communities must drive conversations around these intersecting challenges, as their experiences are key to achieving meaningful change.
CDHR’s Call to Action
On this International Human Rights Day, the CDHR calls on all stakeholders to prioritize human rights as a critical agenda:
- Civil Society Groups and Citizens:
- Stay vigilant, demand accountability, and foster a culture of human rights awareness.
- The International Community:
- Provide technical and financial support to Nigeria’s human rights initiatives and hold violators accountable.
- The Nigerian Government:
- Strengthen institutions that protect human rights.
- Enforce laws safeguarding vulnerable groups.
- Prioritize transparency and accountability in governance.
Priority Areas for Action
- Defend Freedoms: Protect freedom of expression, association, and access to information, while combating all forms of discrimination and inequality.
- Ensure Justice: Strengthen mechanisms that ensure accountability and protect individuals from violence, oppression, and injustice.
- Empower Communities: Invest in education, healthcare, and sustainable development to enable every Nigerian to live with dignity and opportunity.
- Combat Climate Change: Uphold environmental rights to secure a safe and healthy planet for future generations.
A Shared Responsibility
The CDHR urges all Nigerians to embrace solidarity and actively contribute to creating a society where everyone’s rights are respected and protected. By doing so, we can collectively build a future rooted in equity, justice, and dignity for all.
As we mark International Human Rights Day 2024, let us remember that human rights are not abstract ideals—they are the foundation of our shared humanity and the bedrock upon which Nigeria’s future is built. Together, we can ensure that “Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now” becomes more than a slogan, transforming into a lived reality for every Nigerian.
Signed,
Debo Adeniran
President, CDHR