Amnesty International has accused the Nigerian government of not doing enough to reduce the level of human rights violations in the country.

The human rights organisation revealed this today with its launch of the ‘Amnesty International Report 2010: State of the World’s Human Rights’, a publication which documents abuses in 159 selected countries, between January and December 2009.

In the report, the organisation stated that some governments are blocking advances in international justice by violating the law on human rights, shielding allies from criticism, and acting only when politically convenient.

“Repression and injustice are flourishing in the global justice gap, condemning millions of people to abuse, oppression, and poverty,” said Claudio Cordone, interim secretary-general of the organisation.

“Governments must ensure that no one is above the law, and that everyone has access to justice for all human rights violations. Until governments stop subordinating justice to political self-interest, freedom from fear and freedom from want will remain elusive for most of humanity.”

Police brutality: Nigeria’s albatross

Extra judicial killings by the Nigerian police officers featured prominently in the country’s assessment in the report. The human rights organisation, which sent its team of investigators to Nigeria, identified numerous cases of killings by the police, as well as torture and enforced disappearance of suspects.

“The police continued to commit with impunity a wide range of human rights violations, including unlawful killings, torture and other ill-treatment, and enforced disappearances,” stated the report. “Some people were targeted for failing to pay bribes. Several people were tortured to death in police detention. Prisoners were held in appalling conditions, many of whom had been awaiting trial for years.”

Suppressing freedom of expression

The human rights organisation also revealed that the right to freedom of expression continued to suffer significantly in Nigeria.

The various cases of assassinations of journalists, and repeated efforts to suppress or influence media practitioners were also highlighted in the report.

“Human rights defenders and journalists critical of the government faced increased intimidation and harassment. At least 26 journalists were arrested by the State Security Service or police. Some were released after a few hours, while others were detained incommunicado for up to 12 days. In addition, media offices were raided, TV stations shut down, and journalists threatened and beaten by police and security forces,” the report stated.

Amnesty International also pointed out that the legislature in Nigeria has hampered the promotion of press freedom by enacting unfavourable laws, and ignoring the Freedom of Information Bill.

Faulty judiciary too

Despite the repeated assurances by the government to reform the country’s judicial system, Amnesty International has faulted the progress made. The organisation, however, highlighted the efforts of states like Lagos in reforming the magistrate court system, but delivered a damning verdict on the federal government’s judicial reforms performance.

“Seven out of 10 inmates in prison were pre-trial detainees”, stated the report. “Many had been held for years awaiting trial in appalling conditions. Few could afford a lawyer and the government-funded Legal Aid Council had fewer than 100 lawyers for the whole country.

“A review of the Police Act (1990), started in 2004, had still not resulted in a new law. The vast majority of recommendations made in previous years by two presidential commissions: the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, and the UN Special Rapporteur on torture, were not implemented.”

The international human rights organisation also identified issues like the high rates of violence against women, forced evictions, and inadequate housing, retention of the death penalty, and discrimination of the people of the Niger Delta, as other issues which the country must tackle if it desires to promote human rights.

“The need for effective global justice is a key lesson from the past year,” said Mr. Cordone. “Justice provides fairness and truth to those who suffer violations, deters human rights abuses, and ultimately delivers a more stable and secure world.”

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Politics/5573508-147/amnesty_international_indicts_nigeria__.csp

na today

They havn't started yet, by the time they r through they will not only indict but indicate.Am suprised by the sudden int. Attention bn given to ngr, as though injustice,extra judicial killings corruption all started today, in nigeria. What abt d kilin of ken saro wiwa, abiola, shehu yardua and others, the odi massacre, kaduna riots, jos killings[yr 2000] why did the international community keep shut, pls if they knw they cant do a thing abt it they might as well keep shut.

9ja police neva c person wey go beat them wen last we went to 9ja a foolish woman went to bring to policemen arrest mai dad and they didnt meet him they met mai mum dey said dey were gonna take her away mai mum said no they aint gonna take her away duting they argument one of d police slapped mai mum , mai uncle just called some touts walahi they beat the policemen up itz was funny they even collect the cloth d wun dat slapped mai mum

ok.

Nigerians are too daft to have their human rights respected.
From the replies so far above, you'll see people that have accepted suffering as a way of life. Even if someone is pointing it out, the prefer to receive the abuse than fight for a change.
Nigeria have loooooooooooooooooooooooong way to go.
it's such a pity!

Nigeria is a basket case.

"Nigeria" is till an enslaved nation,

this is just amnesty international, can't wait for our corruption ratings,GOD go deliver naija,na wa for this country,anyhow sha,one luv nigeria

Amnesty is the one raining now huh?

jimmysho:

na today

my sentiments exactly

lol @ raining

If it isnt amnesty international. It will be transparency international, all this jabbling dont stop a thing in nigeria. It seems nigerians have gotten used to it.

It is always painful that non Nigerians take interest in our affairs as protagonists of our destiny. Despite all the reprimands and exposes', people in government still don't even care to listen. But would anyone blame them when majority of them are criminals and encourage total abuse, disrespect,intimidation and humiliation of the ordinary poor defenceless citizen.
The truth is that many of us were born into this comatose state of hardship and no no other life. we therefore accept anything thrown our way without complaining,

But if you ask me, frankly speaking we are the architects of our own failures and hardship and can only begin to rest and receive respect when we consciously agree that our destiny is in our hands and that to succeed we must all come together and work for our common goal.

Until we do so we will continue to be rated the 10th or whatever most corrupt nation with the greatest propensity to love and wallow i our hardship without complaining. Good luck to them but if i see anythin "me i go talk if i see anything O!