Senate Approves Fund To Tackle Sexual, Gender-Based Violence, Others
PRESS STATEMENT
Senate Approves Fund To Tackle Sexual, Gender-Based Violence, Others
The Senate, on
Tuesday, April 5, 2022 passed into law a Bill to reposition the National Human
Rights Commission by establishing the National Human Rights Fund in Nigeria’s
annual budget.
The Fund when
established, would be used particularly for interventions on sexual and
gender-based violence and other unforeseen human rights violations in the
country.
The Bill tited:
“The National Human Rights Commission Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2022
(SB.587)”, was read for the first time on 2nd December, 2020.
It seeks to
repeal and enact the National Human Rights Commission Act 2010 (as
amended).
The passage of
the Bill was sequel to the presentation and consideration of its report by the
Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters and the Committee
of the Whole respectively.
Chairman of the
Judiciary Committee, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), said the Bill seeks
to “reposition and streamline the institutional framework of the Commission by
strengthening its capacity to conduct investigations on human rights issues, as
well as expand on the scope of the Commission’s operation,
generally.
“The Bill also
makes specific provisions to provide for the National Human Rights Fund in the
National Budget as well as provide effective means of sustaining contribution
to the Fund, whereby Non-Governmental Organizations and Multi-National Corporations
will make remittances to the account, accordingly”.
He explained
that the establishment of the Human Rights Fund is in line with International
Best Practices, as it relates to Human Rights Institutions
globally.
He stated that
the Fund would facilitate the seamless discharge of the statutory functions of
the Commission in line with the Paris Principles.
“This is
important in view of the rising spate of insecurity, sexual and gender-based
violence and other unforeseen human rights violations in the country, which
cannot be contemplated and adequately budgeted for, during consideration of
annual budgets”, he added.
Signed:
Dr. Ezrel Tabiowo, FAI, FIMC, CMC, FCP, Fsca
Special Assistant (Press)
To President of the Senate
Tuesday, April 5, 2022.