The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, in Ebonyi has raised alarm over increasing domestic violence, threats to life, and child and family abandonment in the state.
The Commission recorded 109 human rights abuses in Ebonyi between January and February 2025 even as oNHRC Coordinator in the state, Christopher Okorie said that 68 cases of domestic violence, threats to life, and family abandonment were among the 109 reported human rights abuses in the state.
He added that seven cases of child maltreatment, three sexual harassments, three rape, and three missing children were also documented during the period under review.
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“On right to female inheritance, we recorded one case; while civil and political rights violations included five cases of intimidation, conspiracy and unlawful arrests,” he explained.
The Commission also recorded two cases of unlawful salary deductions, threats to business, and 20 instances of degrading treatment on grounds of disability and health.
Okorie said the prevalence of child and family abandonment remained troubling and urged members of the public to desist from such acts.
“Other reported cases include defilement, harmful traditional practices, violence, assault, and trafficking,” the coordinator added.
The commission with over 20 branches across Nigeria, has a Governing Council of 16 members consisting of a chairman, usually a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria or the Court of Appeal or a retired Judge of the High Court of a State and an Executive Secretary.
The current Executive Secretary is Anthony O. Ojukwu Esq. Council members are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Attorney General of the Federation.
The commission executes its mandate through the establishment of a National Action Plan which features effective complaint mechanism, enlightenment seminars, workshops, rallies and continuous reengineering of its strategies. Aside upholding human rights, It creates avenue for research and awareness on human rights issues in Nigeria.
In post conflict situations, the commission advocates for the rights of vulnerable groups such as women, children and Internally Displaced Persons, IDP; call out defaulters; investigate abuses; establish dialogues and human rights centered negotiations; collaborations for effective post conflict performance; evaluate government’s post conflict actions and policies and obtaining justice and reparation for victims of conflict.
NAN
