In 2022, 1,053 complaints of violations of human rights were reported to the National Human Rights Commission in Kaduna State.
This was disclosed in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Kaduna by the State Coordinator, Mr Terngu Gwar.
Of the 1,053 instances, he claimed the commission had handled 610 of them, with 443 still pending.
According to him, domestic abuse, forced marriage, marriage and parental duty, illegal arrest and detention, entitlement, and inheritance were the main topics of the cases that were received.
“Out of the 1,053 cases received, 282 were on domestic violence and 249 on the abandonment of wife and family, while the remaining cases were on rape, trafficking, custody, access to children and forceful marriage,” he said.
The Commission, he said, also mediated on matters among couples and families, adding that some of the cases had been referred to courts after thorough investigations.
He said that some cases are also referred to other institutions and organisations, such as the police, the Ministry of Justice, the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, which have the mandate to resolve them.
Gwar reiterated the readiness of the commission to protect, promote and enforce fundamental human rights against abuse or violation.
“As a citizen when your right is violated you can take the bold step of reporting the case to the appropriate authority,’’ he said and assured that the pending cases would soon be addressed.
He urged members of the public to understand that rights violations are offensive and advised them to report cases of such violations to the commission and other relevant authorities.
The coordinator urged state governments to provide a more enabling environment through the enforcement of existing laws, provision of additional policies and legal framework.
He further urged all stakeholders to guarantee the security of women and children at home, schools, and working places. (NAN)