From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
As the world mark the International Day against torture, the Federal Government has warned security and law enforcement agencies against the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of detainees in their custody.
The warning was issued on Monday by the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba, at an event organized by the National Committee Against Torture(NACT) to mark the 2023 International Day in Support of Victims of torture.
The Solicitor General of the Federation who doubles as the Chairperson of the committee
equally called on stakeholders, both in the public and private sectors to speak with one voice against the perpetrators of torture, and for all who suffer in their hands, “in order to build a better, more humane society for all people everywhere,” she appealed.
Her words: “We wish to cease this opportunity therefore, to encourage our diligent Law Enforcement Agencies to continue to take measures in combating torture in all their detention centers.
” I admonish you to continue to give the NCAT necessary support whenever they reach out as every action taken by the Committee is with a view to rooting out torture and ensuring that Nigeria complies with its international obligations.
“We are indeed partners in this journey and the NCAT will take deliberate proactive steps to sensitize, engage and train our officers on prevention of torture.
The United Nations’s(UN) International Day in Support of Victims pf Torture is annually observed on June 26 to remind people that human torture is not only unacceptable, but also a crime.
The Convention which came into force on June 26, 1987, gives everyone a chance to unite and voice their opinions against human torture.
In 1997 the United Nations General Assembly decided to mark this historic date and designated June 26 each year as the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
The first International Day in Support of Victims of Torture was held on June 26, 1998. It was a day when the United Nations appealed to all governments and members of civil society to take action to defeat torture and torturers everywhere. That same year marked the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which proclaims that “no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”.
In fulfilment of its international obligations against torture that the Federal Government in 2009 established the National Committee Against Torture as Nigeria’s National Preventive Mechanism in line with the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT).
The NCAT was re-constituted in September 2022, drawing membership from Law Enforcement Agencies, Civil Society Organizations, Academia and other stakeholders, with a view to making the Committee more effective.
The members of the reconstituted committee were drawn from the Federal Ministry of Justice, National Human Right Commission, Nigeria Police Force, Legal Aids Council, Nigeria Correctional Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Bar association among others.
Mrs Jedy-Agba who thank the CSOs for their collaborative efforts of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in helping to provide necessary support on measures to address torture in Nigeria, disclosed that “Our engagements so far has already began to yield results as for the first time since signing the UNCAT, Nigeria has been able to complete a cycle of its country reporting obligations under UNCAT.”
The terms of reference of the re-constituted Committee includes: “To ensure education and information regarding the prohibition against torture are fully included in the training of law enforcement and public officers.
“To prepare quarterly briefings to the AGF on cases of torture and propose appropriate administrative/judicial intervention.
“Propose a review of anti-torture legislations and further develop a national anti-torture policy,” among others.