The Executive Director of Uromi Justice Development Peace and Caritas Initiatives (UROMI-JDPCI), Very Rev. Fr. Fidelis Arhedo has called on the Nigerian government to make economic rights justifiable in the country’s legal system to improve accountability in service delivery.
He equally challenged Nigerians to stand up to promote Human Rights to eliminate inequalities in the society, by speaking up against discrimination, and staying connected with social movements geared towards the eradication of inequalities and gender based violence in the world.
Fr. Arhedo made the calls while delivering a keynote address at a programme organized by the UROMI-JDPCI to commemorate World Human Right Day, tagged: “Equality : Reducing Inequalities, Advancing Human Rights “, held in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The Catholic priest asserted that modern democracy cannot thrive without respect for human rights, and pointed out that the idea of human right and basic needs was closely connected.
“… The idea of human right and basic needs is closely connected. Human rights which are applicable to every person, simply because they are human, can be seen as rights to the fulfilment of; or ability to fulfill basic needs and these needs provide the ground for human rights.
” there is no gain saying that disregarding and contempt of human right leads to barbaric acts, which outrages the conscience of mankind. Modern democracy cannot function well if human rights are not respected. A State must be able to protect its inhabitants from discrimination and oppression ” he said.
He declared that the UROMI-JDPCI was standing with the United Nation and the whole world to support human rights and take collective action for a brighter future.
He explained that this year’s Human Rights Day, tagged: “Equality: Reducing Inequalities, Advancing Human Rights “, was a day to celebrate and advocate for dignity, freedom and basic human rights of all people no matter where they come from.
The Zonal Commander, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Human Persons (NAPTIP), Mrs. Chidiebere Oruruo-Ifudu, while presenting a paper titled: ” Anti-Human Trafficking , a Pathway for Advancing Human Rights “, described human trafficking as a serious violation of human rights, and blamed parents for failing in their responsibilities of raising their children properly.
She lamented that no generation had experienced human rights violation like the present generation, and appealed to all to report human rights offences to NAPTIP, as a way of contributing to the eradication of human trafficking and human rights abuses in the society.
Presenting a paper titled, “Equality: Reducing Inequality, Advancing Human Rights”, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Esan North East Local Government, CSP Solomon Adeleye who represented the Uromi Police Area Command, cited ignorance as major cause of human rights abuse.
