NNHRI-WA urged to tackle shrinking civic space, migration challenges
The Commissioner of Human Rights and Administration Justice (CHRAJ), Dr Joseph Whittal, has urged the Network of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa (NNHRI-WA) to intensify efforts to address emerging human rights challenges in the sub-region, particularly the shrinking civic space, migration, detention conditions and democratic governance.
He said although significant progress had been made in strengthening the network over the past seven years, the region continued to grapple with cross-border human rights issues that required collective responses by national human rights institutions.
"Leadership is temporary, but institutions endure. I urge continuous focus on the pressing human rights challenges of our time, including democratic governance, civic space, which is still shrinking, migration, detention, reparative justice and other emerging concerns," he said.
Handing over ceremony
Dr Whittal made the call at a brief handing over ceremony in Accra last Friday to formally hand over the presidency and secretariat of the network to the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria, Dr Anthony Ojukwu, following elections held in Burkina Faso last year.
The event was attended by representatives of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), national human rights institutions and officials of CHRAJ.
Achievements
Dr Whittal, who assumed the presidency in 2019, highlighted key achievements during his tenure, including the successful transfer and establishment of the network's secretariat in Accra, constitutional reforms and strengthened financial sustainability.
He said in spite of challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the network remained active through regional consultations, election observation missions and virtual engagements that promoted the protection of human rights across West Africa.
Dr Whittal said the network's financial resources increased from about $74,000 when he took office to more than $94,000 at the end of his tenure.
"When I assumed office, the network had only about $74,000 in its accounts.
Today, as I hand over, its resources stand in excess of $94,000, reflecting prudent financial stewardship and improved revenue mobilisation," he said.
Dr Whittal further said the network conducted election observation missions in countries, including Burkina Faso, Ghana, Liberia and Gambia, helping to promote peaceful, transparent and inclusive electoral processes.
Regional cooperation
Speaking after receiving the mandate, Dr Ojukwu said the network would strengthen collaboration among national human rights institutions to address common challenges confronting West African countries.
He announced plans to establish a sub-regional human rights situation room and data centre to improve monitoring, documentation and reporting of human rights issues across the region.
"We shall set up a sub-regional situation room and data centre to help us see the human rights situation in West Africa at a glance," he stated.
Dr Ojukwu said his administration would also focus on building the capacity of national human rights institutions, strengthening cooperation with ECOWAS institutions and expanding partnerships with international organisations and development partners.
ECOWAS commitment
Head of Democracy and Good Governance at the ECOWAS Commission, Ebenezer Asiedu, reaffirmed the commission's commitment to supporting the network and strengthening national human rights institutions in member states.
He said the network was established under ECOWAS protocols to promote and enhance the work of national human rights institutions across the region.
"Just as we worked with the outgoing administration, we will continue to support the new leadership. Our objective is to help strengthen the capacity of member state institutions and ensure that the impact of the network is felt across the region," he said.
About NNHRI-WA
The NNHRI-WA brings together national human rights institutions in West Africa to promote cooperation and address common human rights concerns in the sub-region.
The network serves as a platform for peer learning, experience sharing and collective action among member institutions in tackling human rights challenges in West Africa.
