PRESS RELEASE : 45th Universal Periodic Review of human rights – UK statement on Nigeria [January 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 24 January 2024.
The UK delivered a statement during Nigeria’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Thank you, Mr Vice-President, and we warmly welcome His Excellency the Minister of Justice of Nigeria to today’s Review.
The UK acknowledges Nigeria’s progress on human rights since its last Review, and welcomes Nigeria’s commitment to investigating allegations of human rights violations by security forces, which should be conducted robustly and transparently and ensure perpetrators are held to account.
We recommend that Nigeria:
- Protect civilians and ensure all violations of International Humanitarian Law and all human rights violations or abuses are fully investigated, ensuring accountability when civilians are unlawfully killed.
- Ensure that the human rights of those accused of blasphemy are protected and ensure accountability for related mob killings.
- Enact further legislation to strengthen the rights of women, including the five bills it has committed to re-introducing, and increase women’s political participation and promote gender equality.
Thank you.
