International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) have charged stakeholders on full disclosure of information on issues relating to human rights violations.
Speaking at an event to mark the International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims at the weekend in Abuja, IOM Nigeria Chief of Mission, Laurent De Boeck, observed that full disclosure would not only aid in providing closures to cases of gross human rights violations, whose details remain sketchy and unexplained, but also ensure that they are investigated and perpetrators prosecuted.
He said the right to know truth is often invoked in the context of gross violations of human rights and grave breaches of humanitarian law.
Boeck cited abductions by non-state groups for ransoms in parts of Nigeria as some of the very severe cases of gross human rights violations.
“We must recognise that the pursuit of truth and justice is a long and challenging journey, but it is one that we must undertake if we are to build a better and a more just society.
“Human trafficking and kidnapping are not only crime, but they are also gross violations of human rights. To ensure freedom and a chance at a new life, IOM offers comprehensive direct assistance packages to victims of trafficking in collaboration with our partners.
“Out of the 30,520 migrants returned under the assisted voluntary repatriation programme of IOM, 4,096, representing 13 per cent of the number, are victims of trafficking,” he added.
On his part, NHRC’s Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, who recalled that the global celebration was to celebrate Monsignor Oscar Romero, who was killed for denouncing gross human rights violations, said: “Nigeria has taken steps towards seeking truth and justice in various ways such as the establishment of the Human Rights Violation Investigation Commission, among others.”
He went on: “After the #EndSARS protests and the Lekki Toll Gate incident, which were wrought with human rights violations by the police and military, NHRC established a judicial panel of inquiry in 2021 to investigate cases of human rights violations by law enforcement officers.”
