State of Human Rights Report

FOREWORD

The State of Human Rights in Nigeria 2011-12 Report, produced by the national Human Rights Commission (Commission), is the 4th in the series of this comprehensive publication since its maiden edition in 2006.

Every year that the report is published, certain aspects are improved on from prior years. In the 2011-12 report the Commission streamlined the format of each chapter to highlight actual complaints received by the Commission, and the actions the Commission took to resolve those complaints. Ultimately, it is hoped that this new format will aid the public’s understanding of the Commission’s work, and the breadth of the issues that fall within the Commission’s purview.

FOREWORD

The State of Human Rights in Nigeria Report, produced by the national Human Rights Commission in partnership with the network has also introduced a table of instruments used, a list of abbreviations and an index page for ease of reference. The publication also projects some commendable actions of State agencies in Nigeria.

FOREWORD

The National Human Rights Commission was established by the National Human Rights Commission Act, 1995, in line with the United Nations General Assembly Resolution No. 48/134 of 20 December 1993, which enjoins all member states to establish National Human Rights Institutions relative to their environment..

The Act empowers the Commission to deal with all human rights issues taking into consideration the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, United Nations Charter, Universal Declaration on Human Rights and all other International Human Rights Instruments, to which Nigeria is a party.