Zonal Confab, UPR hold

2 DAY ZONAL CONFERENCE (SOUTH WEST) ON THE NATIONAL ACTION PLAN AND THE UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW: 7 TH –8 TH AUGUST 2014 AT THE CHESTERFIELD HOTEL

Meeting overview and logistics

This conference is part of a larger project on domestic accountability for human rights in Nigeria through CSO engagement with national,regional and international bodies and is supported by Mac ArthurFoundation.The Goal of the project is to The overalll goal of this project is toadvance human rights situation in Nigeria through strategicengagement with national, regional and international human rightsinstruments from 2012 – 2014.

The objectives of the project are

1. To  strengthen  the  capacity  of  advocates  to  actively  engageinternational and regional human rights instruments and holdthe government accountable to its human rights obligations

2. To  facilitate  involvement  of  civil  society  organizations  andhuman rights advocates in developing a CSO reports  that willbe used to demand accountability from the government from2013 – 2015

3.  To  create  linkages  between  international  human  rights mechanisms  and  national  and  state  mechanisms  for  the protection and promotion of human rights

4. To  domesticate  international  human  rights  commitments  byreviewing the NAP document in line with Nigeria’s recent humanrights obligations.

Brief overview on the UPR and the NAP

The  Universal  Periodic  Review  (UPR)  is  a  unique  process  whichinvolves a review of the human rights records of all 192 UN MemberStates once every four years. The UPR is a significant innovation ofthe Human Rights Council which is based on equal treatment for allcountries. It  provides an opportunity for all  States to declare whatactions they have taken to improve the human rights situations intheir  countries  and  to  overcome  challenges  to  the  enjoyment  ofhuman rights. The UPR also includes a sharing of best human rights

practices around the globe. Currently,  no other mechanism of  thiskind exists. On March 4th and July 22nd, 2013, CSOs and the Nigerian governmentsubmitted  to  the  Office of  the  UN High  Commissioner  for  HumanRights  a  report  on  the  human  rights  situation  in  Nigeria,  inaccordance with Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process.

The  report’s  submission  leads  to  a  formal  presentation  by  theNigerian government to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on25th October, 2013 during the 17th session of the UPR process.  At theend of the presentation which was made by Nigerian delegates whichwas  lead  by  the  Hon.  Attorney  General  and  Minister  Of  JusticeMohamed Adoke, about 172 recommendations on the promotion andprotection of human rights were made by various State Parties.

CSOs and Coalition members of the UPR, stakeholders in governmentand  the  public  in  general  are  therefore  encouraged  to  expedientactions on how to hold the government accountable on the variousrecommendations  particularly  on  how  it  relates  to  our  variousthematic areas.

Group presentation.Group 11. International Instrument.Articles: 135.2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 10.Stakeholders: Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Women Affairs, Finance,National Assembly, Media and CSOsAction Plan: Advocacy Visit to the various ministries, Seminars andworkshops,  lobbying,  enlightenment  and  awareness  campaign,engage CSOs on treaty bodies and all reports.

2. ESC .Articles: 135. 1, 6, 129, 130, and 131Stakeholders:  Ministries  of  foreign  Affairs,  Finance,  Labour  andProductive, NLC/TUC, Media, National Assembly.

Action  Plan:  Advocacy  Visit  to  the  various  ministries,  lobbying,partnering  with  organised  Labour,  enlightenment  and  awarenesscampaign, Press conferences and media chart.3. Women’s Rights.Articles: 135.55, 7, 12, 18, 58, 63.Stakeholders:  Ministry  of  Women  Affairs,  (National  and  States),Ministry of Justice, Law enforcement agencies, Ministry of informationand communication, Ministry of health and media.

Action  Plan:  Advocacy,  Legal  Action,  Media  Campaign,Constitutional Review, Selective legislation on CEDAW.

4. CRC.Articles: 135.12, 89, 92, 93, 94.Stakeholders: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Women Affairs,Ministry of Finance, Media, CSOs. Action Plan: Advocacy, Enlightenment and awareness, campaign

Group 21. Corruption Identification of the relevant Law Reviewing  the  relevant  laws  to  bring  them  to  conform  tointernational best practices.

 Holding the government accountable on their  commitment ofupholding  the  UNCAC  laws  to  which  it  is  signatory.  Eg  byadvocacy, media engagement, the FOI. Independency  of  the  agencies  by  reviewing  their  tenure  toinsulate them from political control CSOs should be more vocal on corruption issues and engage themedia to publicise these issues.

ustice CSOs to engage relevant communities of the National Assembly Engage the media Identify other lower officers for long term Continuity. Government  should  implement  recommendation  contained  inthe various past and present presidential committees on policereform by successive  government  from 2006.  HRW, AmnestyInternational .etc To  engage  the  National  Assembly  to  review  relevant  Laws,criminalising Torture with punishment for perpetrators.

3. Death Penalty CSOs to engage government  to adopt the option of moratoriumof the Death Penalty4. CSOs CSOS  should  reconsider  their  approach  of  engagement  withgovernment CSOs should commend the government when the right thing isdone in order the change their perception about CSOs

5. Human Rights Education and Training Inclusion of HRE into school’s Curriculum Government officials should be training on HR CSOs should organise HR training regularly in schools CSOs should initiate HR clubs in the informal sector. Eg Marketplace, place of worship, parks etc.

Group 3

1. DisabilityIncorporate into municipal law the OP CRPD There is a national  bill  which has passed both houses and isbefore a joint harmonization committee before it is presentedfor assent. 4 states currently have laws on special people (Plateau, Bauchi,Lagos and Ekiti).Focus on other states passing Special personslaws. Steps should be taken to domesticate the CRPD CSOs work with Government to ensure domestication.Strengthening  Framework  on  human  rights  instruments  includingCEDAW and CRPD There are many laws which can be traced to CEDAW e.g laws onFGM,GEOB 5 states have suspended passing of the child rights law. Agencies  responsible  are  the  Ministry  of  Education,  NationalAssembly, State House,Joint Committee on Harmonization at theNational Level,NHRC.

Implement UBE for children with disabilities. Agencies responsible is MOE.MYSD,MWASD Free education with all  barriers removed for  all  children withdisabilities.Adopt national policy on CWD and ensure access to education andhealth services The child rights laws should be properly implemented. MOE, MYSD, MWASD. Ensure there are more inclusive schools for PWdS.

2. Civil and Political Rights 1. ElectionsImplement  the  2011  EU  observation  Mission  recommendationsconcerning the equal participation such as to provide assistances toIDPs and prosecute people involved in election violence.

 Electoral systems must be inclusive of PWDs, prisoners etc Agencies responsible INEC. Also electoral laws must be inclusive.Further raise public awareness on the equal rights of PWDs Engaging CSO,MWASD.

3. SECURITYContinue  its  successful  and  productive  measures  to  counter  andeliminate threats of militant insurgents and organized crime groups. Law enforcement agencies (Police, army, JTF) It has gone beyond eliminating threats. Lots of rights are not being affected especially girls and women

Strengthen measures to improve security in the whole country Work with security agencies and counter terrorism unit.Intensify  effortsagainst  organized  crimes,  including  terrorism  andimpunity of perpetrators. Government ensure the rights of citizens are protected at alltimes. Take steps like negotiating to save lives of citizens. Security agencies .

Ensure perpetrators of violence are brought to justice and that thesecurity forces rules of engagement take full account of due processof human rights. Approaching local courts, regional courts, Commissions and theICC to bring  perpetrators to book. Lawyers, CSOs have a role of play. Ensure security agencies try perpetrators in their custody.

Take further steps to restore security with due consideration to therule of law and human rights.

 The counter terrorism strategies should take human rights intocontext. Intense human rights training for security agencies Security agencies, cso

4. Freedom of ReligionPromote the right to freedom of religion There is a unit of religious affairs in every state. Engage National Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, faith basedorganisation  like  CAN,  Christian  Council  of  Nigeria,  NRI,NASFAT,PFN,  African  traditional  religious  leaders,  Communityleaders. Set  up  centres  to  get  information  from  citizens  like  earlywarning signs.

5. ENVIRONMENT Continue to take measures  to  guarantee the right that  its  peoplehave to enjoy a sustainable environment. Adaptation  strategy  has  been  adopted  .We  await  animplementation plan. Addressing the issue of economic and non economic damagesarising from climate change. Compensation should be paid to victims of climate change. Agencies to engage NEMA,NESRAE, Ministry of environment, oilcompanies working in Niger Delta.

The rights of host communities should be protected and theremust be continuous engagement with them. The OgoniUNEP report must be implemented. Oil companies must publish what they pump. The oil companies must address environmental issues in theirCSR initiative. Terminate gas flaring in Nigeria