By Angela Atabo
Amnesty International Nigeria has rieterated its commitment to promoting accountability,defending human rights and seeking justice for victims of abuse.
Mr Auwal Rafsanjani, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Amnesty International Nigeria,said this during the organisation’s Second Annual General Meeting in Abuja.
Rafsanjani said that Nigeria continued to face significant human rights challenges that required sustained advocacy and collective action.
“We are operating in a difficult environment. Across the country, many people continue to face injustice, insecurity, poverty, and abuse of power.
“Civic space remains constrained. Speaking up is not always safe, and accountability is often resisted.”
He said that in spite of the challenges, Amnesty International Nigeria has remained steadfast in amplifying the voices of vulnerable communities and demanding accountability from those in positions of authority.
He highlighted several human rights interventions undertaken by the organization over the past year, including the #EndTigerBase campaign.
This,he said exposed allegations of abuse and contributed to national conversations on reform.
He also cited the release of Adamu Oseni following years of wrongful imprisonment, describing the outcome as evidence of the impact of sustained advocacy.
According to him, Amnesty International Nigeria also played a critical role in responding to a child protection case in Plateau.
He said the child was helped to secure access to medical treatment, legal assistance, and measures aimed at ensuring accountability.
He further drew attention to the organisation’s report, A Decade of Impunity, which examined the impact of insecurity and human rights violations in Nigeria’s South-East region and strengthened calls for justice and institutional reforms.
“These are not abstract achievements. They speak to lives changed, dignity restored, and injustice confronted,” Rafsanjani said.
He stressed that Amnesty’s work extended beyond publishing reports and issuing statements, emphasising that the organisation’s mission was rooted in defending the rights and dignity of ordinary people affected by injustice.
Rafsanjani also called on members to strengthen the human rights movement by expanding participation and building stronger structures across Nigeria’s states and communities.
He said a broader and more diverse membership would enable the organisation to reach more people, document more violations, and mobilize greater public support for human rights causes.
As Amnesty International Nigeria continues to grow, he urged members to remain guided by the principles of fairness, inclusion, accountability, and respect for human dignity.
“At its core, Amnesty stands on a simple but powerful principle: no one should suffer injustice in silence,” he said.
He further emphasised the need for unity among human rights defenders, noting that while differing opinions are inevitable, commitment to the protection of human rights must remain the organization’s unifying purpose.
Rafsanjani called on members and supporters to continue standing with victims of abuse and to work collectively toward a society where justice, accountability, and respect for human dignity are guaranteed for all.
“Together, we can defend human rights with courage and clarity. Together, we can make justice and dignity real for more people,” he said.
Rafsajani who described the gathering as a defining moment for the organisation,said the meeting brought together members from
Ghana, Kenya and Germany.
He said the AGM was important because it presented an opportunity to assess progress, strengthen structures and chart a new course for the movement.
Also speaking ,Human Rights Lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana,speaking on citizens’ rights and government accountability stressed the need to protect lives.
Falana explained that Nigerians now have the legal right to sue the police for unlawful detention.
He said this was an important legal development that citizens should take advantage of when their rights are violated.
He frowned at the fact that political leaders were more concerned about personal interests than the welfare of ordinary Nigerians and called for a paradigm shift.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
ATAB/OO