NHRC urges ECOWAS to increase funding for human rights

The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Bem Angwe has called on member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to commit more funds to the improvement of human rights institutions in their home countries.

Angwe called on the ECOWAS Commission to be vigilant and input human rights in their programming.

The NHRC boss spoke yesterday in Abuja at a one-day training of the Network of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa.

While addressing the 2016 Annual General Assembly of the regional human rights body which held the NHRC headquarters in Abuja, Angwe noted that of the 15 countries in West Africa, only six have international status at the global level.

He lamented that “basic rights such as freedom of association, freedom of expression and the press are routinely trampled upon.“Prison conditions are dire with overcrowding, poor feeding and absence of rehabilitation facilities as key issues.

Angwe further told delegates from the various West African countries who are attending the two day event that the challenge of ensuring that community citizens enjoy human rights was daunting, however, adding that it could be defeated.

Angwe who chairs the regional body of the association, submitted that no country in West Africa was immune against human rights violations.

“The serial violation of the right to participate in government as required under Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Right and the applicable ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, is a matter of serious concern.

“This puts democracy in danger and our collective aspirations in peril. When this happens, and it often happens in many countries in our region, peace and security become issues of regional concern,” Angwe declared.