Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings, no matter what our nationality, place of residence, sex, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. These rights are all interrelated, interdependent and indivisible.

International human rights law lays down obligations of Governments to act in certain ways or to refrain from certain acts, in order to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals or groups.

The principle of universality of human rights is the cornerstone of international human rights law. This principle, as first emphasised in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights in 1948, has been reiterated in numerous international human rights conventions, declarations, and resolutions.

In order to protect human rights in Nigeria, the Nigeria Bar Association-Human Rights Institute (NBA-HRI) was established.

The institute is also to protect the rule of law, independence of the legal profession effectively and efficiently and to advance human rights enforcement in Nigeria.

Part of the objects of the Institute is to coordinate human rights policies and programmes at the national and branch levels and to promote, protect and enforce human rights under a just rule of Law.

In line with its objective, the Nigerian Bar Association in a paper delivered at the 44th session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights held on Tuesday November 11th, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, lamented the abysmal levels of human rights awareness amongst the general populace in Africa and called on the Commission to adopt a resolution calling on African Governments to review their educational curricula to include human rights education.

The Association also stressed the need for government to make children aware of these rights at an early stage.

A statement jointly issued by the NBA-HRI Chairman, Abiola Olagunju and the Secretary, Ikeazor Akaraiwe, said the NBA-HRI drew the attention of the Commission to the abuse of power by governments around Africa, adding that the challenges of armed conflicts on the continent underscore the need for urgent action.

It urged the Commission not to waver in this effort, especially as it relates to the human rights content of the curricula of security operatives around Africa.

The NBA-HRI maintained that the recent reports of Amnesty International on the widespread use of torture by law enforcement agents in the extraction of confessions and the securing of convictions in Nigeria is reflective of what is happening all around Africa.

It noted that 70 percent of those who were convicted and those who were on death row were convicted solely on confessional statements extracted under duress, torture and other forms of degrading and inhuman treatment.

"Indeed in a recent report and public tribunal organised by the Network On Police Reform In Nigeria (NOPRIN) revealed that that torture was so commonplace that in most cases the police have jettisoned the traditional method of forensic policing and resorted to the short cut of torture to secure convictions. It is commonplace to see an officer unofficially designated as "OC Torture" i.e. Officer in Charge of torture in most major police stations across the country", it stated

The Institute identified two main factors as responsible for this namely; the low level of human rights education among law enforcement agencies in the country and the system of legal framework which allows them to get away with such practices.

In the light of this NBA-HRI urged the Commission to call on the Nigerian Government and other African states that have not done so to take urgent measures to criminalise torture and domesticate the United Nations Convention against torture.

It urged the Commission to compel government to as a matter of urgency embark on intensive Human Rights education especially among security agencies to re-orientate them and inculcate in them respect for the fundamental rights of the citizens whom they are under oath to protect.

NBAHRI stated that the NBA as the umbrella body of the over 60,000 lawyers admitted to practice in Nigeria is willing to partner with the Commission and governments around Africa to promote human rights education especially as it relates to law enforcement agencies.

The commission agreed with the submission of the Institute with the Chairperson promising to do more to encourage human rights education on the continent.