Izuchukwu Okosi and Kayode Shopekan
Izuchukwu Okosi and Kayode Shopekan
Amnesty International has called on journalists and other relevant stakeholders to partner with them in the fight against fundamental human rights of citizens that are constantly being trampled upon.
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Speaking at the virtual Amnesty International Journalists Hangout on Friday evening, Programmes Director of Amnesty International in Nigeria Seun Bakare, explained that the organisation identified five objectives to work with which they tagged: Amnesty Strategic Goals.
The five strategic objectives of the organisation in the battle against human rights abuse are: Reclaiming Freedom, Securing Rights For Everyone, Responding To Crisis, Accountability and Maximising Resources and Engagement.
Bakare stated that in educating and fighting for the rights of people there is need for “Reclaiming Freedom.” “People need to know their rights and how to claim or safeguard them from being trampled,” Bakare explained.
“Securing Rights For Everyone such that irrespective of your gender, religion, economic and social standing, you can speak out and be heard, and there is equality before the law is necessary,” Bakare stated on the second strategic goal of the reverred organisation.
The Programme Director said the organisation is doing its best to ensure that people are safe during crisis under the “Responding to Crisis” agenda while stating that ‘Accountability’ is key.
“As an organisation, we recognised that most of the impunity we witness will continue if there is no accountability.
“Unless people are given information they may not know their rights, what their rights are and how to safeguard it, so that they are not harassed unduly, arrested and jailed for expressing their fundamental human rights.”
While commending Amnesty International for the laudable work done so far, a journalist, Haruna Muhammed, pleaded with the organisation to help build capacity for journalists through trainings.
Responding to the comment, Bakare, noted that they started something in that regard in 2019, but could not continue in 2020, due to the Coronavirus pandemic but hopes they can pick up from they stopped in 2022.
“We need capacity to respond to human rights issues. Capacity enhancement and building are key areas we intend to strengthen.
“We have well over 10 million members all over the world but we are still not enough, we need your input to make the fight against violence, rape, sexual abuse, human right abuse, strong, and as the gate keepers of information we want you to join us and make fight bigger and louder.
Amnesty International according to its Country Director, Osai Ojigho who spoke on the ‘Criminal Justice System’ reiterated that they are desirous to end human rights abuse which most times go unpunished.
“The Endsars protest, and the police brutality that we witnessed in the country – criminals must be held accountable. We have done a lot of conflict management in the north east and we were seen as wanting to destabilise and disintegrating Nigeria.
“We condemn ham rights violation. Even Boko Haram have threatened us saying they will deal with Amnesty International.
The organisation stated that another virtual Journalists Hangout will hold before the end of the year.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
