United Nations delegation to visit Nigeria to assess human rights protection
The United Nations (UN) Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) is set to visit Nigeria aims to assess the treatment of individuals in detention and measure whether the country has strengthened its capacity to protect the human rights of all people deprived of liberty since the Subcommittee’s previous visit ten years ago.
Penpushing reports that the visit which is the second will take place from 8 to 19 September, 2024, while the delegation will visit various places where individuals are held, including prisons, police stations, and psychiatric institutions, among other facilities.
The statement made available by National Information Officer of United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Dr Seyi Soremekun said the delegation will also engage with the relevant Nigerian authorities, notably the National Human Rights Commission, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders, to discuss torture prevention measures and mechanisms.
Penpushing further reports that Head of the delegation, Aisha Shujune Muhammad added that Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture’s (SPT) visit is an opportunity for Nigeria to advance its commitment to torture prevention and to strengthen safeguards in detention places.
“It is also an occasion to help the authorities set up a National Mechanism for Prevention of Torture (NPM), an obligation under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture that Nigeria ratified in 2009,” she added.
Penpushing also reports that the statement said at the end of the visit, the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) will present its confidential preliminary observations to the Nigerian government, adding that following the visit, a confidential report detailing the committee’s concerns and recommendations will be shared with the Nigerian authorities.
The delegation will comprise Aisha Shujune Mumammad (Maldives) Head of the delegation, Satyabhooshun Gupt Domah (Mauritius), Andrew Christoffel Nissen (South Africa), and Victor Zaharia (Moldova), and will be accompanied by two Human Rights Officers from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
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