Nigeria, Venezuela sign MoU on protection, promotion of human rights

Nigeria and Venezuela on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on exchange of programmes and practices on protection and promotion of human rights.

The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mr Tony Ojukwu, SAN, signed on behalf of Nigeria while the Venezuelan ambassador to Nigeria, Amb David Caraballo signed on behalf of Venezuela.

Ojukwu said that violation of human rights is the same all over the world.

“We have different departments handling different things, this makes it easier for us to work effectively and efficiently in many areas of the promotion and protection of rights.

“Human rights violation is the same all over the world and we are happy to have this collaboration.

“We have similar departments like yours and the work is so challenging” he said.

Ojukwu told the envoy that appointment into the office of the Executive Secretary is done by the President.

Ojukwu further said that the collaboration would open many doors of learning new things between the two institutions.

Responding, Caraballo, who led the delegation, said there is good bilateral relationship between the two countries on many areas.

“There has been a long history of relationship between Venezuela and Nigeria” he said.

Speaking earlier, the Ombudsman, Alfrudo Angulo whose position is similar to the Executive secretary of NHRC, said the Venezuelan human rights institution was created in 1999.

He said human rights is for everyone and must be taken seriously.

“Human right is for everyone and attention should be paid in the areas of torture and ill treatment of the people.

“We are here therefore to sign this agreement to help us collaborate with each other to protect and promote human rights” he said