Torture remains a global threat prohibited by numerous international organizations such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel and The Human Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. While Nigeria’s constitution recognizes the right to respect for the dignity of a person which includes the right to not be subjected to torture, it is undeniable that the rate of inhumane treatment and torture which remains at a considerably high level, especially in Nigeria’s correctional facilities where individuals are systematically dehumanized. Involving important elements, it poses an intentional, immense mental and physical pain on the victim, mostly for the sole aim of obtaining information, confession or punishment.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has however inaugurated a National Committee Against Torture (NCAT), in a bid to fight this threat to human rights. The Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, during this inauguration he explained that the members of this committee were expected to play an important role to enhance the stamping out of torture and other related crimes, as well as ensuring justice to the victims. On the failure of the previously established committee, Malami observed poor funding as the poignant cause, noting that adequate provision of funding to further ease the task of the committee was imperative.
NCAT assigned to curb torture in the country in accordance with UNCAT.
He stated that the National Committee Against Torture (NCAT) has been assigned with a huge mandate of curbing the problem of torture in the country in accordance with the United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT). Admitting the critical nature of the task, Malami revealed that the committee was at liberty of creating more dwelling areas as the need arises. He also revealed that the committee was empowered and permitted to work with the NHRC in the performance of this mandate, especially on cases where visiting the correctional service facilities are important.
Solicitor-General of the Federation and Chairperson of the NCAT, Beatrice Jedy-Agba however assured the Federal Government that the committee was overtly committed to satisfactorily implementing the designated terms of reference. The Executive Secretary of NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, SAN, also said that the NHRC’s intention of hosting the committee was in close line with the best international practices, as long as it enhances and brings immeasurable credibility to the works of the committee.
Access to correctional facilities, a challenge of previous committee.
Tony, speaking about the problem of the previously established committee, recalled that the problem associated with visits to the correctional service facilities was evidently a major challenge. He thus noted that it would be hugely beneficial, improving the committee’s ability to leverage on the powers of the commission to visit these correctional facilities. He further stated that it was important for the committee to also work collaboratively with MDAs, The Nigerian Bar Associations and Civil Society Organizations. The committee’s Terms of Reference are designed to engage and collaborate with the Committee Against Torture (CAT), as well as regional human rights mechanism in the context of country reporting.
The committee’s Terms of Reference also include interactive dialogues and facilitating visits by special procedure mandate holders or the subcommittees on the prevention of torture, organizing and facilitating the preparation of reports to CAT and human rights mechanisms. As well as responses to communications, follow up questions and recommendations received from the mechanism. The coordination of data collection and gathering information from government agencies, the National Assembly and Judiciary for reportage and follow ups.
Members of committee to ensure the fight against human rights abuse.
Others include receiving and considering communications of torture from individuals and government institutions, fostering and leading consultations for reportage and follow ups with the National Human Rights Commission and Civil Society Organizations. Members of the committee were selected from the Federal Ministry of Justice, National Human Rights Commission, Nigeria Police Force, Legal Aid Council, National Correctional Service, Nigerian Bar Association and States Services amongst others. This established committee will thus be poignant in the country’s fight against abuse of human rights related issues.
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Can torture be abolished in Nigeria if yes it’s awelcome development because I have see cases of such tortures causing severe pains and suffering forsuch individual so.e have gone blind,some with terminal ailments and others, Government and other stake holders needs to do more about this.
Torture is a criminal act. We should all advocate against it. I’m happy a committee has been set up to check and oversee torture related crimes and people that are being tortured.
Torture is a harsh act we should all fight against it if it can be abolish in our country is a nice innovation to us
It will be very good if FG inaugurated committee against torture could stamp out and rather implement a better means to get information in our correctional facilities. Dehumanization through brutality and torture are never better ways to correct an individual. It will further make them more harden and difficult consisting a major threat when release.
While Nigeria’s constitution recognizes the right to respect for the dignity of a person which includes the right to not be subjected to torture, it is undeniable that the rate of inhumane treatment and torture which remains at a considerably high level, especially in Nigeria’s correctional facilities where individuals are systematically dehumanized.
National Committee Against Torture (NCAT) has been assigned with a huge mandate of curbing the problem of torture in the country in accordance with the United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT). Hopefully they’d do a good job.
The rate of inhumane treatment and torture remains high in Nigeria. If it can be abolish, good and fine
Inhumane treatment and torture are not best ways to correct an individual…It would make a lot of sense if torture can be abolished in Nigeria. FG should put things together!
If what is writing in this article is something to go about,it will be very good development and it will really curb lots of this act.
A number of international organisations, such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, have outlawed the practise of torture, yet it is still practised in some parts of the world.
While Nigeria’s constitution does acknowledge the right to respect for a person’s dignity, which includes the right to not be subjected to torture, Nigeria’s government continues to violate the rights of its citizens.
Involving significant components inflicts great emotional and physical suffering on the victim on purpose, the majority of the time for the sole purpose of eliciting a confession, gaining information, or meting out punishment.
It should be noted that insufficient financing as the root cause, noting that suitable funding should be provided to the committee as soon as possible in order to facilitate their work more effectively.
This committee was given the authority and permission to collaborate with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in the performance of this task, particularly on cases when visiting the penal service facilities is crucial.
They are obligated to reassure the Federal Government that the committee has an unwavering commitment to operating in accordance with the terms of reference that have been specified.
The objective of the NHRC to host the committee was to be in close line with the best practises that are followed internationally, so long as it improves and provides an incalculable amount of credibility to the tasks that the committee is doing.
In addition, the Terms of Reference for the committee call on it to engage in interactive dialogues and to facilitate visits by mandate holders of special procedures or subcommittees on the prevention of torture.
It would be to the committee’s great advantage to be able to better rely on the powers of the commission in order to tour these different correctional facilities.
receiving and reviewing messages of torture from private individuals and government entities, as well as encouraging and conducting consultations for reports and follow-ups with the National Human Rights Commission
The National Committee Against Torture should please endeavor that torture-related crimes are stamped out of correctional facility because this is not the best way to rehabilitate or extract information, confessions or punishment but it lead to dehumanization of that individual. It will be better to establish a better means.
In compliance with the United Nations Convention Against Torture, the National Committee Against Torture (NCAT) has been given a broad mission to reduce the problem of torture in the nation (UNCAT).