The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and stakeholders have validated a reviewed Harmonised Complaints and Redress Manual to enhance the protection of human rights and ensure efficient access to justice
The manual is an administrative handbook, and a culmination of the procedural processes in the complaint handling at the Commission.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr Tony Ojukwu SAN said the manual is designed to speed up the resolution of cases and ensure a safer, confidential process, reducing the risk of reprisal for victims.
He highlighted that the updated manual acts as an “institutional shield” and a “crucial component” of the Commission’s commitment to justice, transparency, and human dignity.
“We rely on a fundamental maxim, Ubi jus ibi remedium (where there is a right, there must be a remedy).
” For many victims of human rights violation / abuses, including the vulnerable persons in Nigeria, this maxim has historically felt like a broken promise because the courts and administration of criminal justice in Nigeria have not always proved this right.
” The commission was established to fill this gap and recognised that we cannot simply urge people in Nigeria to “report abuses/violations.
” We must build an architecture that makes reporting safe and accountability effective. We must dismantle the fear of secondary victimization and ensure that all victims of human rights violation accesses justice ” he said.
A major feature of the manual, he said, is the integration of the Human Rights Abuse Tracking System (HRAT), which automates the submission, filing, sorting, and escalation of complaints to relevant departments for faster resolution.
Also speaking, Mr Abdulrahman Yakubu, a retired director in the commission, commended the NHRC for updating the manual which would assist in speeding up resolution of cases and ensure a safer, confidential process, reducing the risk of reprisal for victims.
