FGN YET TO SUBMIT REPORT ON TORTURE TO THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTIONS AGAINST TORTURE- CLEEN FOUNDATION/ PRAWA

Oru Leonard

Nigeria has failed to submit her initial report to Conventions Against Torture (CAT), after 20 years of the Convention Against Torture in the year 2001. The United Nations CAT monitors the implementation of States Parties’ obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment[1]. State party’s obligations include an initial report within one year of the treaty coming into force for that State and subsequent submission of reports to the Committee Against Torture every four years.

A joint press release co- signed by         Ruth Olofin, Acting Executive Director      CLEEN Foundation and Dr. Uju Aguomoh Executive Director, PRAWA stated that ratification of the convention against torture in the year 2001 by Nigeria was aimed to bring to an end torture, extra judicial killings, inhuman or degrading treatment of the citizens by security forces and the ugly experiences associated with military rule in Nigeria and birth a reform in security forces treatment of the citizens.

” However it is on record that Nigeria has not submitted her reports to Committee Against Torture to fulfill her obligations as a state party on Conventions Against Torture that she ratified over two decades”, the statement noted.

They disclosed that the UN CAT, after twenty years of ratifying the Convention Against Torture, Nigeria was slated to be reviewed for the first time by the UN Committee Against Torture in November 2020, but the session was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the review will now be conducted in November 2021 during the UN CAT session in Geneva.

“As at this press time, Nigeria is yet to respond to the invitation and confirm participation to the upcoming UN CAT session in November 2021 at Geneva and submit her report which will form the basis for the review of Nigeria compliance to the provisions of the United Nations Conventions Against Torture (UNCAT)”, they expressed.

They urged the federal government of NIgeria, through the Federal Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs to urgently take steps to fulfill the obligations of Nigeria as a state party on Conventions Against Torture and submit her reports to the Committee to improve the image of Nigeria as a country that respects human rights globally.

About CLEEN Foundation
CLEEN Foundation is a nongovernmental organization registered with corporate affairs commission in Nigeria. CLEEN Foundation has over 20 years experience working on justice sector reforms and human rights in Nigeria. CLEEN is a member of several national and international networks including the establishment of the Network on Police Reform in Nigeria, a coalition of 34 civil society groups working on issues of police transformation in Nigeria. Our expertise as a thought leader within civil society working on security sector governance and reform cuts across internal and external accountability programming for security actors and oversight bodies, civil military relations, law and criminal justice, monitoring and evaluation amongst other areas in public safety and security.

About PRAWA
PRAWA is a non-governmental organization with the mission to promote institutional reforms in formal and informal sector for access to justice, rehabilitation, and social development of prisoners, ex-prisoners, torture victim and youth at risk. Established in December 1994, PRAWA exists to provide practical support services to prisoners, ex-prisoners, survivors of torture, youth-at-risk, and their families. PRAWA’s main focus is on promoting transformative justice models that recognize healing and accessible justice for victims, offenders and the community. PRAWA carries out its programmes through capacity building of criminal justice agents on human rights and good practice, policy advocacy, research, public awareness, and provision of correctional/ community-based support services for target groups. PRAWA hosts the secretariat for the CSO Forum on Detention and Corrections. It is also the coordinating center for of the Network of Specialized Rehabilitation Centres for the Treatment of Torture Survivors in Nigeria, and a member of the Sub-Saharan Network Against Torture and Organized Violence (SANTOV) and the regional hub for the African Security Sector Reform Network (ASSN).