A Non- Governmental Organization (NGO), Avocats Sans Frontiers (ASF) France has partnered with journalists to eliminate all forms of torture against humanity in the state.
Speaking at the program last Thursday, the facilitator, Promoting the United Nations Convention Against Torture (ProCAT), Edugie Amihere said the training was to equip journalists with the knowledge of fundamental human rights to enable them join forces with ASF France to combating torture by periodic sensitization of citizens on their rights as well inform the public of the legislation against dehumanization.
Amihere stated that ASF France, since 1998, has been promoting and protecting fundamental human rights by sustaining rule of law, access to justice and the right to fair trial or hearing through the defense work of independent and impartial lawyers.
With ProCAT Support Lawyer, Imo State, Anele Ogujiofor highlighting the fundamental human rights as contained in the 1999 Constitution, sections 33-46 which included right to life, right to human dignity, right to fair hearing, freedom of thought, conscience and religion among others, pointing out the need for citizens to be acquainted with these fundamental rights to avoid unnecessary intimidations.
Explaining torture as the physical, emotional or mental infliction of pain on any human, Anele condemned any form of torture, saying “no exceptional circumstances, whatsoever, whether a state of war or a threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency may be invoked as a justification for torture”.
He stressed that anti-torture Act has been signed into law by federal government on December 2017 and has been an important step in ensuring justice for victims of torture, prescribing up to 25 years jail for people who dehumanize the vulnerable.
According to the anti-torture Act 2017 section 1, the group said “government shall ensure that the rights of all persons, including suspects, detainees and prisoners are respected at all times, that no person placed under investigation or held in custody of any person in authority shall be subjected to physical harm, force, violence threat or intimidation of any act that impairs his or her free will”.
