ARAT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLLesson Content:
1. Introduction:
What are Human Rights Institutions?
As we learned in Term 2, when a citizen's fundamental rights (like the Right to Life or Fair Hearing) are abused, they are not helpless.
Human Rights Institutions are the places a citizen can go to seek help, protection, and justice. They are the "referees" that protect citizens from abuse.
Human right institutions can be classified into 2two;
1. Government Institutions (Statutory Bodies)
A. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
Who they are: A government institution established by law (the NHRC Act). It
is independent, but funded by the government.
Primary Roles:
1. Investigation: They receive and investigate all complaints of human rights abuses from any person or group.
2. Monitoring: they monitor prisons, police cells, and other places of detention to ensure they meet human rights standards.
3. Advising: To advise the government on laws and policies related to Human rights.
4. Education: They educate the public (like students) about their fundamental rights.
Their Power: They can order compensation for victims and work with the police to get abusers arrested.
B. The Legal Aid Council of Nigeria
Who are They: A government agency.
*Primary Role: To provide free legal services (lawyers) to poor Nigerian citizens who cannot afford to hire one.
*Why it is important: The Constitution guarantees the "Right to a Fair Hearing," which includes the right to a lawyer. But lawyers are expensive. If a poor person is arrested, they might go to jail simply because they cannot afford a lawyer. The Legal Aid Council provides that lawyer for free, ensuring that poverty does not deny justice.
*Who they help: They focus on serious criminal cases (like robbery, murder) and civil cases (like a widow being kicked out of her home).
2. Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
Definition: An NGO is a non-profit, private organisation that is not part of the government. They are run by private citizens and are funded by public donations.
Role in Human Rights: Human rights NGOs (also called Civil Society Organisations) are crucial "watchdogs." Their roles include:
i. Advocacy: They are a loud voice for the voiceless. They protest, use the media, and pressure the government to stop abuses
ii. Legal Support: Some (like FIDA) have their own lawyers who take on cases for free.
iii. Research and Reports: They investigate and publish detailed reports on abuses, which are used by the media and the UN.
Examples of Human Rights NGOs in Nigeria:
Ì)Amnesty International (Nigeria): A global group that campaigns against torture and unfair imprisonment.
Ìì) FIDA (Federación Internacional de Abogadas / International Federation of Women Lawyers): An NGO of female lawyers who fight for the rights of women and children.
Ìíì)Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO): One of Nigeria's oldest human rights groups.