CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Internationally and nationally, the need for the promotion and protection of human rights is now not only recognized as the foundation of freedom and justice but as an integral and essential element for the preservation of peace not only within the confines of particular states, but universally. It is for this reason that human rights which include such rights as right to life, dignity of human person, personal liberty, fair-hearing and freedom of thought, conscience and religion, have not only engaged the attention of the world community but have, “in the recent past, penetrated the international dialogue, become an active ingredient in interstate relations and has burst the sacred bounds of national sovereignty†(Jacob Abiodun, 2013).
Although Nigeria has been active in signing and ratifying international human rights treaties, it has been challenges when trying to implement these treaties domestically. Nigeria operates under a dualist system and cannot apply international treaties unless they are by the legislative houses of Nigeria. Furthermore, the Nigeria constitution protects civil and political rights, but international treaties like the Africa Charter also expand protection to cultural, socioeconomic, and group rights. Because the Nigeria constitution is supreme law, the Supreme Court of Nigeria often resolves conflicts in favor of the Constitution, therefore restricting the expansion of potential human rights (Egede and Edwin, 2007).
Just as the contemporary conception and contents of human rights have developed and grown over the years at the global level, Nigeria has made serious improvements in human rights under the constitution of 1999 though the American Human Rights Report of 2012 notes areas where significant improvement is needed, which include: abuses by Boko Haram, killings by governmental forces, lack of social equality, and issues with freedom of speech. The Human Rights watch’s 2015 World Report states that intensified violence by Boko Haram, restrictions of LGBT rights, and government corruption continue to undermine the status of Human Rights in Nigeria. Kidnapping for ransom and rituals are also alarming. Other forms of human rights abuse in Nigeria include motorists‟ harassment and extortion by security personnel, political assassinations, undemocratic imposition of candidates in leadership and intimidation of political opponents; rape, child abuse, education denial and domestic violence (Adetoro and Omiyefa, 2014).
Initially, Nigeria system operates on three methods of case submission. First method is the normal paper filling form for the complainant to fill all the necessary detail of the event, second method is sending the complaint through email with all the necessary requirement to the assigned body. The third method is lodging complaint in person to the commission. These cases were submitted, processed and resolved by an organization that fight for Human Right in Nigeria called National Human Right Commission (NHRC).
The NHRC personal lodge of compliant, the traditional system and mailing system with their efforts are still lacking as cases are not being resolved on time. Also each user must have email account before using the email method and also enchanter sending to wrong mail. Some people fear the scenario of not getting reply on time and how active are the body in checking their mail box. Submitted cases takes time after submission before reaching the assigned personnel that deal with such cases.
After looking through these challenges facing the NHRC’s reporting methods, this study looks to implement ICT system by develop an online portal that will be available for everyone to quickly report any form of human rights violation from different location across the country to the Commission. The cases will now be submitted online and have direct access of the NHRC cases resolved personnel to make a quick review and respond on each submitted cases. The means of using email and filling a paper form will not be terminated, but enhance the body’s effort by making it to digital system. The addition of evidence will also be implemented in the system as it is provided in other methods.
