Imo celebrates International Human Rights Day in grand style…State Coordinator, Ukah reiterates commitment to protect victims of human rights abuses

…applauds NBA, NAWOJ, Women Affairs Ministry, others

By Stanley Okehie…

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Imo State, Saturday, December 10, joined the world to celebrate the 2022 International Human Rights Day.

Imo State Coordinator of the Commission, Mrs. Ukachi Ukah who led other staff of the commission, members of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and Ministry of Women Affairs, on a road show within Owerri metropolis, expressed satisfaction at the turn out of the event, and applauded participants for their support towards ensuring that proper awareness was created to commemorate the Day in Imo.

Speaking with Journalists shortly after the occasion which held at the Nigerian Bar Center, Owerri, Ukah said Human Rights Day is an annual event, celebrated every December 10.

According to her, “it begins with 16 days of activism with lots of activities, also to create awareness on the promotion, protection and enforcement of human rights.

Speaking on the theme of this year’s celebration; “Dignity, Freedom and Justice For all”, Ukah explained that the guaranty of human dignity, freedom and justice for all in practice must revolve around institutions, not personalities.

She stressed that one of the major issues that the world is faced with, is harassment and infringement of human rights of citizens, and therefore enjoined participants at the event, to become enforcers and promoters of human dignity, freedom and justice as a means for ensuring and entrenching human rights in all spheres of the society.

In an address the State Coordinator presented on behalf of the Executive Secretary, NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu reminded Nigerians of the significance of the day, set aside by the United Nations for introspection on values of human life, dignity, equality and freedom of all human beings regardless of our peculiar circumstances.

“This year’s celebration amplifies the plight of over 133 million Nigerians living in multi-dimensional poverty, the millions of out of school children (the highest in the world), the millions of our brothers and sisters internally displaced by conflicts and floods across the country, the thousands of women and children survivors of gender based violence etc as challenges requiring collective solutions by all.”

Speakers at the occasion including the Human Rights Committee Chairman of the NBA – Barr Chioma Emuka, NAWOJ Chairperson – Dorothy Nnaji PhD, Dr. Azubuike Blessing of Women Affairs Ministry, Executive Director, Honourbirth Foundation – Mrs. Elizabeth Onyemaechi, agreed to unite in protecting and promoting human rights to ensure peaceful coexistence of all human beings.

The highpoint of the occasion was public lectures on issues bothering on human rights and the unveiling of petition boxes for complaints on human rights abuses.