The Hon. Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, has emphasized the importance of collaboration and commitment among stakeholders to advance reparatory justice in West Africa.
The Minister stressed this at the opening session of the 7th Regional Consultation of National Human Institutions in West Africa, which held in Abuja.
The AGF who was represented by the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Governing Council, Dr. Salamatu Suleiman, stated that with collaboration and commitment, the ECOWAS State can easily achieve the objectives of the consultation as Nigeria remains resolute in its pursuit for restorative justice.
The Regional Consultation themed "Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations: The Role of NHRIs" brought together NHRIs from across West Africa to discuss the critical issue of reparatory justice and develop concrete recommendations and innovative solutions to strengthen human rights protection across the region.
The Minister further emphasized that "through unwavering determination and audacious leadership, we can transform the ideals of reparations into a reality that restores dignity, fosters reconciliation, and builds a more equitable future for all."
The Executive Secretary of NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, highlighted the escalating human rights violations in West Africa, citing undemocratic government changes, shrinking civic spaces, conflicts, terrorism and insurgency, forced displacements, climate change etc as contributing factors.
He emphasized the need for NHRIs to work together to address these challenges and promote human rights in the West African sub region.
Making his remarks, Dr. Joseph Whittall, President of the NNHRI-WA, underscored the importance of regional collaboration in strengthening human rights protection mechanisms. He stressed the importance of the consultative meeting noting that it presented an opportunity to share experiences and learn from each other with respect to handling the myriads of issues confronting the sub-region.
The ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musa, stressed the need for a collective regional approach to reparatory justice, emphasizing that "the consultation must serve as a collective call for a human rights-based approach to reparatory justice."
He also congratulated ECOWAS citizens on the organization's 50th anniversary and expressed hope that the milestone would herald a new era of peace, dignity, and inclusive development.
Other stakeholders who contributed to the discussion included Mr. Benjamin Hounton, Deputy Regional Representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and Ms. Barrie Lynne Freeman, Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel.
The consultation aims to develop actionable strategies for enhancing NHRIs effectiveness, with discussions aimed at translating the theme into practical reforms across member states.
Participating countries include Benin, Cabo Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
