Democracy and Human Rights in Nigeria: A Critical Inquiry (Published)
Democracy has been generally acclaimed as the best protector of human rights amongst all forms of government. In many democratic nations of the world this is evidential, but in Nigeria the story is different. Democratic government of Nigeria, with regard to the issue of human rights protection is not too different from military dictatorship. It has been observed and rightly too, that government agencies are the worst violators of human rights and tacitly backed by the government. This paper challenges the Nigerian government that was democratically elected to uphold her statutory and definitional responsibility of respecting, protecting and enhancing human rights of her citizens and punish decisively any abuses of human rights. The citizens also should not be complacent about this, they should protest legitimately against such violations bearing in mind that violation of their rights dehumanizes them which should not be the case.
Keywords: Abuses, Democracy, Human Rights, Nigerian Government, Violations
RELIGION AND HUMAN RIGHTS: SEARCHING FOR A MUTUAL GROUND FOR DEVELOPMENT (Published)
In practical terms, religion and human rights are understood to be performing similar functions in respect of human development. The relationship between religion and human rights is on one side problematic and on the other, unavoidable in all parts of the world (as religion is a universal phenomenon). Broadly defined, religion involves what is sacred and transcends human knowledge. Human rights which seek to provide assorts of protection has also developed to received global attention. Human rights norms are inherently abstract ideals which depend on the visions and values of human communities to get its content and coherence. Traditional African concept of man emphasizes the spiritual dimension of human rights that must be heeded to. Western thought of ‘human rights’ seems to emphasise the ‘rights’ rather’ than the ‘human’. Human rights consist of two categories (human and rights) which need equal concentration. In view of this the paper explores the interaction of religious ideas and institutions in the wake to promote the rights of humans for sustainable development. Wherever religion appears to be a guiding principle in the lives of individuals and communities, it seems of obvious relevance to consider how it might be employed to further the course of equal rights for all. The paper objectively purports religion as an inherent condition of human lives which invariably provides the sources and scales of dignity and responsibility, respect and restitution that human rights need to survive and flourish
Keywords: Development, Dignity, Human Rights, Human Society, Religion.
‘BABY FACTORIES’: A NEW PHASE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION IN NIGERIA (Review Completed - Accepted)
Recent developments in Nigeria has witnessed a different form of human trafficking as a violation of human rights. While the crusade against human trafficking and violation of human rights is gaining ground and yielding positive results in Nigeria, there emerges another form of trafficking and slavery called ‘baby factories’ through the use of deceit, undue-influence, kidnapping and abduction et cetera, by unlawful incarceration of pregnant young/teenage girls or getting them pregnant for the purpose of giving birth to babies for sale or other purposes. This paper discovers that this illicit trade is further aggravating the incidence of trafficking and human rights violation in Nigeria. It is further discovered that the operation of ‘baby factories’ brings along with it the commission of other crimes and further worsen the effects of human trafficking and slavery as violations of inalienable rights. The paper concludes that unless necessary steps are taken immediately to completely abolish the practice of ‘baby factories’ in Nigeria, the practice will be on the increase as it is attracting income to the perpetrators of this illicit act. In the final analysis, we recommend ways of tackling human trafficking in general and specifically, the menace of the emerging ‘baby factories’ in Nigeria, including both legislative and executive interventions.
Keywords: Human Rights, Human Trafficking and Baby Factories
Is Capital Punishment Acceptable (Review Completed - Accepted)
Even after entering the twenty first century, we read about capital punishment in newspapers. Is it acceptable or not? This is one of the most controversial issues in current legal system. Our judicial system is how much fair? Is it true that though there are may be a connection between justice and punishment it is the hidden hand of the powerful which moves the sword? Is not capital punishment purely a subjective matter? Capital punishment cannot be justified from either the material or spiritual point of view. If we look at it from the materialistic point of view then death is the end of everything. The criminal actually suffers more if he is given life sentence. He does not actually have to bear physical captivity nor does he have to suffer from physiological stress till the end of his days. On the other hand hanging releases him from pain and suffering far more quickly.
Keywords: Human Rights, Ideological Viewpoint, Materialistic Viewpoint