Nigeria Deposits NAP in Geneva, Switzerland.

NIGERIA DEPOSITS HER NATIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN GENEVA. SWITZERLAND, FRIDAY JULY 24TH .2009.

Nigeria has deposited her National Action Plan for the promotion and protection of Human Rights at the United Nations Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland.

The issue of human rights has been on the front burner since 1948 when the universal declaration of human rights was adopted. Consequently, many instruments of the United Nations were ratified by so many countries, Nigeria among others. Having ratified these documents countries have to take steps to actualize them.

In line with this, the National Action Plan was recommended for states parties of the United Nations at a Declaration held in Vienna, Austria in 1993. It requested that states should draw up a plan of action on how within the context of their own sovereign states they can implement all international instruments and covenants to which their countries can uphold the promotion and protection of human rights to meet the United Nations Standards.

In fulfillment of this international obligation, Nigeria has deposited her National Action Plan for the promotion and protection of human rights at the United Nations Secretariat in Geneva. The deposit was made by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Mr. Michael Aondoakaa the leader of the Nigerian delegation to the United Nations. He said the National Action Plan is a commitment of Nigeria as a country to live above standards in the African continent, and to lead in the observance of human rights.

The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission stated at the occasion that the National Action Plan constitutes an integrated and systematic national strategy to help realize the advancement of human rights in Nigeria. On her part, The United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay pledged her support for Nigeria. She said “as Nigeria embarks on this indispensable programme, I would like to offer the assistance of my office and my personal pledge to the Attorney general of support to this crucial step on behalf of human rights".

Present at the occasion were some non governmental organizations from Nigeria and friends of Nigeria from other parts of the world. They said Nigeria is setting a standard for other countries not only in the African continent but other parts of the world. What matters most for the people of Nigeria according to some of them is to see human rights becoming a reality.

With the deposit of the National Action Plan for the promotion and protection of human rights at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, many people now believe that Nigeria has adequate protection for human rights, hoping that Human Rights will henceforth be an integral part of our daily lives. Nigeria is the second country apart from South Africa to deposit a National Action Plan on Human Rights.