The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland QC, has been asked to apply the Commonwealth Charter to hold the Nigerian authorities to account over reports of attacks on journalists covering the #EndHunger protests and peaceful protesters in some parts of the country.
The request came from the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) which equally urged the Commonwealth Charter to press the Nigerian authorities to promptly, thoroughly, impartially, independently, transparently and effectively investigate reports of attacks on journalists covering the protests in Nigeria and on peaceful protesters.
In a statement issued by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP further tasked Scotland to “press the Nigerian authorities to publish the outcome of any investigation and to hold suspected perpetrators to account and ensure access to justice and effective remedies for the affected journalists and peaceful protesters for any violations of domestic law and international standards.”
The group equally urged Scotland to press the Nigerian authorities to uphold the rights of journalists to monitor and report on protests and ensure their safety, as well as ensure that journalists are not detained, threatened, attacked or restricted when covering noteworthy events of interest to the public, such as protests.
Referencing its ‘Urgent Appeal' dated August 3, 2024, SERAP posited that, “The targeting of journalists with lethal or less-lethal force for doing their work is prohibited under the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights law and contrary to the best law enforcement standards.
“Those violating such standards must be subject to accountability and disciplinary processes.
“The Commonwealth should take a clear stand to ensure accountability of institutions, media freedom and peaceful assembly in Nigeria.”
The ‘Urgent Appeal’, copied to Mr António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Mr Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, read in part: “The Nigerian authorities over the years have repeatedly demonstrated that it is not committed to protecting human rights.
“Respect for Commonwealth values is essential for citizens to trust Commonwealth institutions.
“The Commonwealth ought to take a strong stand for the protection of human rights and media freedom in Nigeria, principles which are fundamental to the Commonwealth’s integrity, functioning and effectiveness of its institutions.
“Nigerian authorities have the legal obligation to protect journalists reporting the news, including covering protests. Nigerian authorities also have an obligation to investigate and punish any violation that occurs within the framework of a public demonstration, including attacks on the press.
“The Commonwealth Charter and declarations recognise media freedom and the inalienable right of individuals to participate in democratic processes, in particular through peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and assembly, access to information, and media freedom, which apply both offline and online.
“Any peaceful protesters and journalists detained solely because they exercised the right to peaceful assembly and covering the protests should be immediately and unconditionally released.
“Law enforcement officers should only resort to force in ‘exceptional’ circumstances. Any use of force must only be the minimum amount necessary, targeted at specific individuals, and proportionate to the threat posed.”
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