The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has raised concern over the increasing cases of abuse against women in Kaduna State, revealing that about 95 per cent of complaints received at its state office come from women.
The Kaduna State coordinator of the Commission, Tengu Gwar, disclosed this during a state-level consultative meeting on the National Action Plan (NAP) on Human Rights held in Kaduna on Tuesday.
According to him, many women continue to suffer violations ranging from sexual and gender-based violence to family abandonment, inheritance disputes and discrimination, forcing them to seek help from the Commission.
“At the Kaduna State office, about 95 per cent of the complaints we receive monthly and yearly come from women. This shows that many women are facing different forms of human rights violations”.
He said behind many of the cases are women struggling with broken homes, denial of inheritance rights, domestic abuse and neglect, stressing that vulnerable groups, especially women, children and persons with disabilities, remain at the centre of growing human rights concerns in the State.
Gwar described the National Action Plan on Human Rights as a comprehensive policy framework developed by the Federal Government to strengthen the protection and promotion of human rights across the country.
He explained that the document outlines Nigeria’s commitment to protecting civil and political rights as well as economic, social, cultural and collective rights.
According to him, the consultative meeting was organised to deepen awareness about the action plan and strengthen collaboration among ministries, departments, agencies and civil society organisations for effective implementation in Kaduna State.
“We are here to popularise the document, create awareness around it and clearly define the responsibilities of ministries, departments and agencies represented at this meeting,” he said.
The NHRC coordinator warned that reports of rights violations continue to rise daily, particularly among women and vulnerable persons, calling for stronger institutional support and public awareness to address the trend.
Also speaking, a representative of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Aisha Abdul-Mohamed, described the engagement as critical to strengthening human rights protection at the grassroots.
Abdul-Mohamed stressed the need for lawyers and civil society organisations to be actively involved from the beginning of the implementation process to ensure accountability and effective enforcement.
She added that the engagement also helped create awareness about the existence and importance of the National Action Plan.
On his part, the executive director of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Hub, Gabriel Onovo, said many residents were still unaware of the activities of the NHRC and where to seek help whenever their rights are violated.
Onovo noted that civil society organisations had continued to push for improved access to justice and stronger protection for victims of human rights abuses across Kaduna State.
