The CLEEN Foundation and Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) have jointly appealed to the Nigerian government to comply with its obligation to the Convention Against Torture by sending its report to the Committee in accordance with Article 19 of the Convention Against Torture Treaty.
The demand was made as part of a series of activities carried out by both organizations towards the implementation of the Convention Against Torture in Nigeria.
The Foundation said while Nigeria has recorded some progress in terms of the enactment of relevant legal provisions including an Anti-Torture Act in 2017, acts of torture have unfortunately persisted.
The Convention Against Torture is a treaty that is committed to ending torture, inhumane, and degrading treatment of persons. Nigeria ratified the treaty in 2001, but has failed to submit her status on torture for over two decades.
In a project titled “Development of Alternative Report on the Implementation of the Convention Against Torture in Nigeria,” CLEEN Foundation and PRAWA, with the support of the World Organization Against Torture, are leading national consultations to develop a joint CSO report to be submitted to the 72nd session of CAT in November, 2021.
According to CLEEN Foundation, this will be done through the conduct of a Stakeholders Workshop on the CAT Implementation in Nigeria, Review and Validation Workshop, High Level Advocacy Meetings, 2-day Capacity Building for the Consortium, selected CSOs, the National Human Right Commission NHRC and Ministry of Justice, capacity building for journalists and the development of an alternative report on CAT Implementation in Nigeria led by CSOs.
