UNESCO’s Convention Against Discrimination in Education (CADE, 1960) which is the first instrument in the field of the right to education defined education in article 1(2) as “ all types and levels of education,  including access to education, the standard and quality of education and the conditions under which it is given”.

CADE and many other international and regional human rights instruments have provisions on the right to education. Nigeria being a signatory to these instruments has taken steps to adhere to these provisions. Notable amongst these steps was the domestication of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and its adoption as the Child Rights Act in 2003. This law has not been effective throughout the Federation as only 23 states have enacted it into state laws. Provisions on Right to Education in Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria even though regarded as non-justiciable have been given effect and made justiciable by other domestic laws such as the Universal Basic Education Act as well case law, amongst others also support this.

The actualization of promoting the Right to Education is however bedeviled by issues such as low enrolment of children particularly the girl child, low completion of basic education, i.e high rate of drop out especially boys in the South – Eastern Zone of the country, shortage and poor-quality infrastructures in schools e.g classrooms, water, electricity, toilets and furniture amongst others.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in line with its mandate to promote and protect human rights has established Right to Education as a thematic area of focus to drive its vision of having all children enrolled in school as well as to ensure that the culture of human rights is promoted and maintained in schools.

The Commission also recognizes that the realization of the right to education empowers holders to claim other human rights. It therefore requires the collective effort of all Citizens; parents in particular, the civil society and the government in ensuring that Right to Education as guaranteed by the constitution and other international and regional instruments that Nigeria is a party to are fully enjoyed and the corresponding duties and responsibilities fulfilled.

The Commission works to eliminate discrimination and violence against women and girls, while promoting equality in education, healthcare, employment, and politics. A dedicated department addresses violations affecting women and children.  

Key Issues: gender-based violence, harmful practices, workplace discrimination, political underrepresentation, barriers to justice etc.

Objectives: advance gender equality, empower women, protect against abuses.

Strategies: complaints handling, investigations, awareness campaigns, advocacy, monitoring, empowerment.

Children are vulnerable and require special care and protection. The Commission pays particular attention in addressing their issues especially relating to child labour, exploitation, early marriage, abuse, and lack of access to education and healthcare, while promoting child-friendly justice.  

Key Issues: exploitation, abuse, early marriage, trafficking, poor access to services, displacement.

Objectives: safeguard child rights, promote welfare and protection systems.

Strategies: advocacy, community sensitization, investigations, referrals, policy engagement etc.

The National Human Rights Commission was established by Decree No: 22 on the 27th September, 1995, and now NHRC (Amendment) Act, 2010 in line with the United Nations General Assembly Resolution No. 48/134 of 20th December 1993, which enjoins all member states to establish National Human Right Institutions relative to their environment. The Act empowers the Commission to deal with all human right issues taking into consideration the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in line with other International Human Right Instrument to which Nigeria is a party.

One of the Commission’s mandate is to “organize local and international seminar, workshops and conferences on human rights issues of public enlightenment, liaise and corporate with local and international organizations on human rights for the purpose of advancing the promotion and protection of human rights. These human rights among other things include the right to food and shelter.

On the 16th October, 2018, the Commission observed the World Food 73rd Anniversary of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO). The day is celebrated every year around the world in honour of the date of the founding of FAO of the United Nations in 1945.

World food day is observed by all United Nations member states. It is a day dedicated to tackling global hunger. People around the world come together to declare their commitment to eradicate world hunger from our lives. In celebrating the creation of the FAO, events are organised in over 150 countries across the world, making it one of the most celebrated days in the UN calendar.

These events promote worldwide awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger and for the need to ensure food security and nutritious diets for all. The focus of the day is that food is a basic and fundamental human right. Yet, in a world of billions, 805 million people worldwide live with chronic hunger, 60% women and almost five million children under the age of five die of malnutrition-related causes every day. The Commission’s observance of World food is one of our commitments to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 – to achieve zero hunger by 2030.

The United Nations has designated the first Monday of October every year as World Habitant Day. The purpose of world habitant day is to reflect on the state of our towns and cities. On the 1st October, 2018 the Commission attended a seminar hosted by the Ministry of Works and Housing at the NAF Conference Centre, Jahi, Abuja, to mark the World Habitant Day which was themed ‘Municipal Solid Waste Management.’

The commission has carried out sensitisation programs on human rights issues on forced evictions, intervened for victims of demolition activities to see that they are properly compensated or resettled.