Agencies responsible for protection of human rights

 The establishment and formation on the agencies

Some of the agencies responsible for the protection of human rights in Nigeria include:

•Constitutional Rights Project – founded in 1990 to promote rule of law in Nigeria.

•Nigerian Center for Human Rights and Development – founded in 1995 to promote democracy and enforcement of rights.

•Human Rights Monitor – founded in 1992 to promote human rights.

•Institute for Dispute Resolution – founded in 1999 to promote peaceful conflict resolution.

•Human Rights Law Services (Hurilaws) – established in 2007.

•Youths For Human Rights Protection And Transparency Initiative

The roles of agencies for the protection of human rights

Centre for Advanced Social Sciences (CASS)

History

The Centre for Advanced Social Sciences (CASS) was formed in 1992 and is based in Port Harcourt. Two other branches are planned, one for East and Southern Africa, the other for francophone West and Central Africa.

Mandate

CASS is a think tank concerned with improving management and public policy in Africa.

Structure

The Centre has a Board of Trustees and is governed by an international Board of Directors.

Program

CASS’s research areas are public policy, governance and democratization, and the international system. The Centre runs seminars and training sessions.

Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO)

History

Established in 1987, the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) is one of Nigeria’s largest human rights organizations.

Mandate

The CLO is a non-governmental organization set up for the defence and expansion of human rights and civil liberties.

Structure

The CLO is a membership organization with sixteen state branches outside Lagos. It has a staff of 23 and is headed by a National Advisory Council and a Board of Governors.

Program

The CLO investigate s human rights abuses and campaigns through litigation, publications and communications with the government on behalf of people whose rights have been abused.

Human Rights Monitor

Human Rights Monitor is an organization in Kaduna which was started in January 1993 by about 15 people in response to the need for a human rights body in the North.

Mandate

The purpose of the organization is to address human rights issues in the north of Nigeria.

Structure

Human Right, Monitor has three full-time staff members and is a membership organization with approximately 50 members.

Program

The organization has taken cases to court with the CLO and issued joint releases with the CLO on human rights issues in the north. The organization is completely self-funded and accordingly its activities have hampered.