Kaduna stakeholders seek stronger safeguards for human rights defenders

Stakeholders have called for stronger safeguards to protect human rights defenders from threats, intimidation and harassment.

The stakeholders made the call on Thursday in Kaduna at a Technical Working Group Meeting on the Drafting of the Human Rights Defenders Protection Framework for Kaduna and the North-West.

The meeting was organised by the Centre for Community Empowerment in Conflict and Peace-building, supported by Spaces for Change, and the Fund for Global Human Rights.

The convener, Dr Salaudeen Hasheem, said human rights defenders faced several challenges while discharging their constitutional responsibilities.

Hasheem said defenders advocated for the voiceless, stood up for vulnerable people and exposed corruption and other anomalies within society.

He said some defenders and social commentators had recently faced political repression, including incarceration, for speaking against perceived wrongdoing.

According to him, dissent is part of democratic tenets and those holding political authorities accountable should not be attacked for performing their roles.

He said the proposed framework would provide safeguards for people dedicated to protecting vulnerable and less privileged members of society.

“Human rights defenders should not be labelled enemies of the state because they are also discharging their constitutional role,” he said.

Hasheem said various government instruments had sometimes been weaponised against defenders through digital surveillance, law enforcement and other measures.

He cited the case of journalist and social commentator, Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata, as an example of forced disappearance.

He said the framework would provide a pathway and referral mechanism for addressing threats and violations against human rights defenders.

The convener said a Human Rights Defenders Network had emerged from the engagement to serve as a platform for escalating cases.

He expressed hope that the framework would eventually become an act of the Kaduna State House of Assembly and be adopted across the North-West.

Hasheem said the group would engage the Conference of Speakers, Governors’ Forum and other stakeholders to advance the proposed framework.

He said the initiative was particularly important ahead of elections, when human rights defenders could face increased targeting.

Hasheem described defenders as constructive and objective individuals without partisan affiliations, dedicated to safeguarding vulnerable people and amplifying their voices.

He said defenders understood existing laws and the boundaries between defending vulnerable people and crossing lawful limits.

The Kaduna state Commissioner of Women Affairs, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, described the initiative as timely and important for strengthening government strategies.

Salisu, represented by Dr Adamu Abba, Coordinator of the Kaduna Diversion Centre, said defenders sometimes faced retaliation while intervening in human rights violations.

She said violations occurred even at household level, including domestic violence, requiring defenders to intervene on behalf of victims.

Salisu said the proposed framework would facilitate access to human rights protection and improve mechanisms for addressing violations.

The Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice in Kaduna, Dr James Kanyip, said the state would benefit from the framework aimed at addressing the challenges confronting human rights defenders.

Kanyip, represented by S.Z. Kyari, the Kaduna State Counsel, said government workers also sometimes faced threats and backlashes while carrying out their responsibilities.

Kanyip said the Ministry of Justice had established a Citizens’ Rights Department to address issues affecting vulnerable people.

He said the department assisted people unable to afford legal services and those whose rights had been violated.

According to him, the department used alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to help vulnerable people resolve disputes.

Kanyip said the department handled several cases weekly, mostly involving people who were vulnerable and unable to defend themselves.

He said the department had achieved positive results through cooperation with government agencies and security institutions.

Kanyip noted that establishing a framework to protect those who speak for the voiceless was necessary and could not be overemphasised.

Dr Terngu Gwar, Kaduna Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission, said the Commission’s Act was undergoing amendment, with protection of human rights defenders among proposed provisions.

He commended the organisers for initiating the process, describing human rights defenders as essential actors in promoting dignity, justice, accountability and the rule of law.

He said defenders served as a bridge between citizens and institutions by documenting violations, supporting victims and highlighting neglected issues.

Gwar said their protection was closely connected to the commission’s mandate and required stronger legal and institutional mechanisms.

He said the proposed framework should define government institutions’ responsibilities, provide accessible reporting channels and establish effective protection and response mechanisms.

Gwar also called for remedies for defenders whose rights were threatened and an inclusive framework reflecting the realities of the North-West.

He said defenders included civil society organisations, lawyers, journalists, community leaders, women and youth advocates, researchers and grassroots actors.

Speaking on behalf of security agencies, Assistant Comptroller of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kennedy Dan-nana, urged clear referral pathways.

Dan-nana asked where a human rights defender should be directed after reporting a threat or violation to a security agency.

He said the framework should specify who receives complaints, conducts assessments, provides immediate response, makes referrals and follows up cases.

Dan-nana also called for designated focal persons in participating institutions to handle matters involving human rights defenders.

He said early-warning mechanisms should be central to the framework, with clearly defined roles for security agencies.

Dan-nana stressed that protection should not exempt defenders from obeying the law while carrying out their legitimate activities.

He called for confidentiality of information submitted by defenders, saying fear of disclosure could discourage victims and witnesses from speaking out.

Dan-nana also advocated training for frontline officers to enable them properly handle complaints involving human rights defenders.

He proposed a simple response model based on identifying, assessing, referring, responding, following up, documenting and reviewing cases.

Newsmen report that participants in the meeting included government ministries, departments and agencies, security agencies, the National Human Rights Commission and civil society organisations.

The Ministry of Women Affairs was also represented to ensure gender considerations were integrated into the framework.