BY ANTHONY OCHELA, ABUJA
National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, said it would monitor the October 1 protest across Nigeria to ensure that state and non-state actors violating the right to protests and other associated human rights are held accountable.
The commission stated this in its advisory ahead of the planned protest by civil society groups on Nigeria’s Independence Day.
In a statement titled ‘Protect the Right to Peaceful Assembly and Association,’ NHRC urged law enforcement agents to respect the rights of protesters to peaceful assembly, avoid excessive force, protect journalists and media personnel from harassment and facilitate dialogue between protesters and relevant stakeholders, while ensuring that arrests and detentions are carried out in accordance with the law.
The commission also charged protesters to “exercise your right to peaceful protest within the ambit of the law, be very civil and respect the rights of others.
“Avoid violence, destruction of property and harmful behaviour, this is detrimental to nation building, the destruction caused may take fortunes to regain which will be a great set back to our development.
“Cooperate with law enforcement agencies to ensure public safety by conducting yourselves with the highest sense of modesty and civility.
“Refrain from hate speech and divisive rhetoric, abusive words and foul language.
“Respect the rights of others, including those who may hold differing opinions, that is the beauty of democracy.
“Ensure that your actions do not infringe on the rights of non-protesters, as everybody must not be on the street protesting,” the commission said.
The commission said it is acting under Section 5, paragraphs (m) and (o) of the NHRC (Amendment) Act of 2010 to restate the law and principles for the enjoyment and protection of the right to peaceful assembly and association.
It reiterated that the advisory followed the August End Bad Governance protests, while emphasising that “the right to peaceful assembly is the cornerstone of our liberty and an essential instrument for promoting the values of democracy and good governance.
“Protests are legitimate means of voicing dissatisfaction and participating in shaping citizen-centred governance and development outcomes.”
On the obligations of the federal and state governments, NHRC said the state has obligations to facilitate peaceful assemblies, adequate protection for protesters against violence or intimidation, effective accountability mechanisms for holding law enforcement and security agencies accountable for any abuses committed during protests, as well as deploy its apparatus for the protection of private and public properties, as well as the lives of protesters and non-protesters before, during and after the protests.
The commission said it “noted with great concern, the clampdown of protesters and subsequent criminal prosecutions following the August End Bad Governance protests across parts of Nigeria.”
It regretted that “the August protests led to loss of lives and public and private properties, but it is yet to be seen that there have been arrests and prosecution of law enforcement and security agents who were primarily responsible for these violations.”
NHRC expressed concern about the charges of treason that have been imposed on some of the protesters and have made this known in various fora.
It, therefore, called on the federal and state government to ensure that the October protests are peaceful and that the protesters are given the necessary support and leverage to conduct themselves in a civilised manner, including protecting them from counter-protesters and mobs.
