Courtesy Call Visit to IMSU DVC, Philip Igbonna
Nigeria: In appraisal efforts to strengthen human rights and kick off the 16-Day Activism for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls, the Special Monitoring Mission of the International Human Rights Commission (SMM IHRC) in Imo State, paid a courtesy call visit to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor DVC Admin of Imo State University (IMSU), Rev. Fr. Prof. Philip A. Ogbonna.
Comrade Ezeani Chiemezie, who led the team of IHRC, said the purpose of the visit was to seek the support and partnership of the Cleric as a Patron of the IHRC-SMM in Imo State to play advisory and mentorship role in advancing and advocating for the human rights of people, alongside safeguarding human rights and facilitating humanitarian initiatives anchored in the Principles enshrined within the Charter of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights-UDHR in Imo State.
While thanking the DVC, for welcoming the team despite his busy schedule, Ezeani emphasized that the International Human Rights Commission IHRC is an Intergovernmental Transnational Organization advancing the rights of people globally all over the world.
“The IHRC has signed a treaty with the INTERPOL, State of the African Diaspora, African Peace and Security Union (APSU), a specialized structure functioning as a continental body encompassing the African continent with a clear mandate to support policies and programs that promote stability, development, and integration of the continent, as well as a Memorandum of Understanding with the Peace and Security Cluster of the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (AU-ECOSOCC), to mention but few”, he hinted.
Going further, Barr. (Mrs.) Nmachi Njemanze Head of Legal IHRC SMM Imo State, added that the potency of the UDHR is that it has been domesticated in our laws since its creation in 1993 vide the Nigerian Ratification and Enforcement Act giving it more strength and vigor with an international obligation.
She maintained that the focus of the SMM-IHRC in Imo State was to identify human rights abuses and violations prevalent in the State to nip them, as the Central Office partners with related sister agencies, governmental agencies, and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the United Nations Charter on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is enforced at all levels in the State.
In response, the DVC appreciated the visit by the International Human Rights Commission IHRC SMM Officials and emphasized the importance of training human rights actors/activists to prevent abuses.
He decried the timidity and lack of boldness of some human rights actors in canvassing for the rights of the people, urging the SMM team that it is not about the number of people that volunteer as members but the dynamism, commitment, and dedication of the volunteers to bring about change and fight for the rights of the people.
Reported
Comrade Ezeani Chiemezie
SMM IHRC Imo State.
Editorial:
Fidelis Onakpoma
Editor-in-Chief for the International Human Rights Commission-IHRC
November 24, 2023.
