The Seventh Regional Consultation of the Network of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa (NNHRI-WA) has ended in Abuja with the election of Nigeria’s Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Anthony Ojukwu as the new President.
The meeting with theme: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations: The Role of NHRIs”was hosted by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Commission), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in West Africa (OHCHR-WARO) and the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS).
The Regional Consultation was aimed at enhancing the overall role of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) toward the promotion and protection of human rights in West Africa.
It had in attendance representatives of NHRIs from twelve (12) countries in the West African sub-Region, ECOWAS Commission, OHCHR-WARO and UNOWAS took part in the Regional Consultation. They addressed a wide range of issues through experience sharing, exchanging best practices and strengthening regional cooperation for the effective implementation of strategies towards the realization of the theme of the Regional Consultation.
According to a communique issued at the end of the gathering, participants discussed the protection of migrants under the umbrella of the implementation of the Global Compact on Migration, promoting human rights within reparative justice frameworks and the modalities and guidance for the development of the ECOWAS Transitional Justice Framework.
Other issues were improving shrinking civic space and conditions of detention, as well as NHRIs engagement with international and regional human rights mechanisms.
NHRIs noted with concern, the continuous absence of the representatives of Commission Nationale des Droits Humains of Burkina Faso, as well as the dissolution of the NHRIs of Guinea and Niger and reaffirm their solidarity and call towards the reinstatement of these member countries in transition. The participants also underscored the need for adequate representation of NHRIs in all the countries of West Africa and the Sahel, pursuant to the Paris Principles, as well as the rights of all individuals within the confines of these countries to the protection and promotion of human rights.
NHRIs were encouraged to actively participate in all stages of the passage of national laws relating to human rights and civil liberties, in accordance with the Belgrade Principles, which define the framework for collaboration between NHRIs and parliaments. In addition, States were encouraged to disseminate national laws and strengthen the capacities of all segments of society, including NHRIs, civil society, ministries departments and agencies, religious and traditional authorities, with a view to ensuring common ownership of these texts.
Participants also urged governments, based on the Paris Principles and the OPCAT, not to hinder the work of NHRIs, particularly their prevention and protection missions, by facilitating visits to places of deprivation of liberty (regular, unannounced, or notified visits) in order to engage in constructive dialogue with authorities for the humanization of prisons in our countries, among others.
With the expiration of the tenure of the office of members of the Executive Committee of the Network, an election was conducted to elect new members to occupy the various positions. The outcome of the election showed: Dr Anthony Ojukwu,(Nigeria NHRI) voted President, Prof. Amsatou Sow Sidibe (Senegal NHRI), Vice President, Cllr. Charles Harris (Liberia NHRI), Treasurer, M. Serge Prince Agbodjan (Benin NHRI), General secretary, Prof. Alkadri Diarra (Mali NHRI), Publicity Secretary 1; Mad. Patricia N. Ndanema (Sierra Leone NHRI), PublicitySecretary 2; Mad. Fernanda Maria da Costa (Guinea-Bissau NHRI) Publicity Secretary 3.
In his acceptance speech, Ojukwu stated that “my vision for this network is anchored on the following: Mutual respect and cooperation for the promotion and protection of human rights in West Africa.
“Building of the capacity of NHRIs to be able to meet the ever-growing challenges of resourcing, governance and operations of NHRIs.
“Support sub-regional monitoring, documentation and reporting of human rights in West Africa by setting up a sub-regional Situation Room and Data Centre.
“Strengthening Collaborations with our subregional political and judicial institutions – the ECOWAS Commission, the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice and the ECOWAS Parliament and others.
“Consolidating and opening new grounds with our development partners including the United Nations system, bilateral partners, International and national NGOs, academic and media institutions.”
He said: “With the changing nature of international development aid and the challenges of the international rule-based system, it seems this vision is already daunting and challenging but I know that with your support, we will surmount, and our network will grow from strength to strength.”
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