ACTIVITIES OF HUMAN RIGHTS MONITOR

Human Rights Monitor carried out a lot of activities during the 1998 and 1999 period. These activities are in consonance with the mandate of Human Rights Monitor.

Ethnic and Religious Rights Project (September 1997-September 1998)

1. Human Rights Monitor organized a workshop on Ethnic and Religious Rights in Nigeria between the 22^nd and 23^rd January 1998. The aim of the workshop was to assist civil society groups and organisations analyse potentially serious conflicts, identify how outside forces and actors manipulate ethnic and religious issues in Nigeria and develop positive strategies to help resolve conflict

2. Conducted a detailed study on Ethnic and Religious Rights in Nigeria

1. Conducted a training workshop for participants drawn from labor, students, bar associations, women groups and other professional bodies on freedom of association.
2. Conducted and published a study on repression of labor, students and professional unions and bodies under the Abacha administration.

Participants at the workshop deliberated on the following issues:

1. Nigerian women and the democratic process
2. Sustaining and consolidating democracy: The role of civil society
3. The Nigerian Media in a democratic Society
4. The Bar, the Bench and Human Rights Litigation in a Democratic Society
5. Human Rights Advocates and Human Rights Protection and Advocacy in Northern Nigeria.

Project on the Condition of Almajirai in the North West Zone of Nigeria (1998/1999)

Human Rights has concluded this project and produced a 74-page research work titled "The condition of Almajirai in the Northwest Zone of Nigeria"

It is currently being distributed to local and international non-governmental organizations and to government agencies.

Training and Enlightenment Program on Law Enforcement and Adminsitration of Justice   

The objectives of the project, among others, included educating police officers and other security agencies on the fundamental rights provisions in the constitution and other international documents and campaign for introduction of human rights courses in the curriculum of security agencies training institutions. It also includes creation of awareness on human rights issues in northern Nigeria and involves more creative approach to advocacy

OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS MONITOR’S ACTIVITIES

Human Rights Monitor continues to focus attention on the problems of Constitutional Democracy in Nigeria. Human Rights Monitor campaigned for the retirement of Service Chiefs that held senior political appointments under the Abacha Administration. The Obasanjo administration subsequently appointed new services Chiefs and retired those that served under the Abacha Administration.

Human Rights Monitor also campaigned for the extension of the jurisdiction of the Honourable Justice Oputa panel set up by the administration to investigate human rights violations in Nigeria. Human Rights Monitor’s intervention was widely publicized. The Obasanjo administration extended the time frame of the panel after Human Rights Monitor’s release.

Human Rights Monitor also continues to receive requests for its publications from organizations within and outside Nigeria.