As the world observed United Nations International Day for Tolerance, its office in Nigeria emphasises the need for due observance of its conventions for the right of peaceful existence, writes Correspondent, SAM NWOKORO.
Monday, November 16, was International Day for Tolerance. It was earmarked by the United Nations (UN) for the observance of the ethics of tolerance in the world, when state and non-state actors must of necessity regard the rights and privileges of any person or persons in exercising their rights as enshrined in the UN human rights charter.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) has been domesticated in every country’s statute books and in all regional and sub-regional groups’ conventions and charters. It states:
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world;
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people;
Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law;
Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations;
Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom;
Whereas member states have pledged themselves to achieve, in cooperation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms;
Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realisation of this pledge, now therefore, the General Assembly
proclaims this Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of member states themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.”
There are 30 articles in that bill of rights.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU) and Nigeria have adopted these principles. Article Four, which dealt much on freedom of speech, religion, association and conscience, is religiously adhered to by all member states.
In Nigeria, fundamental human right of every Nigerian is embedded in Chapter Four of the constitution.
However, events around the world have shown that intolerance has been on the increase. Religious intolerance and fundamentalism have wrought crises in many parts of the world. It has inspired a worrisome growth of terror networks around the world, and Africa has in recent times become another flashpoint of terrorism.
Locally, communities are increasingly agitating against one another. When boundary disputes are not provoking inter-communal brawls, ethnic bigotry by natives against non-natives lead to unnecessary killing of fellow human beings as observed recently in South Africa against immigrants.
In Nigeria, a host of factors has led to unnecessary splitting of hairs among neighbours. The coming of democratic practice has heightened this anomaly. Politicians do not help matters whenever they assume political power by the kind of discriminatory policies they reel out from government institutions funded by tax-payers. Most times, citizens’ complaints are not seriously treated and their causes are not seriously attended to, especially where non-natives are concerned. These allegations are rampant in most states in Nigeria where there is ethnic mix. Discriminatory taxes are wittingly or unwittingly imposed on residents without serious thoughts about social equity.
Even then, Nigeria’s political and fiscal structures are provoking random protests in some parts of the country. All these, perhaps, compelled the National Orientation Agency (NOA), a federal government parastatal charged with promoting value re-orientation among Nigerians, to use the occasion of the International Day for Tolerance to preach the gospel among Lagos residents. The event had the auspicious presence of the UN, courtesy of the Director, United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), Ronald Kayanja. It featured goodwill messages from community heads, representatives of community-based organisations (CBOs), such as gender advocates, the Lagos State Ministry of Justice and its public complaints unit, the Citizens’ Mediation Centre (CMC).
Message from UN
Probably because of the place the UN occupies in the conduct of sovereign states, the event was well attended. Sighting the UN’s traditional white jeep with logo, traders, youths, commuters and passers-by stood still for the speech of Kayanja. Obviously, he symbolised and carried about in his gentle gait all the aura of a UN ambassador. At the same time, his presence reminded the thousands that constituted his audience at the bustling Boundary Roundabout Bus Park in Ajeromi Local Government Area, Lagos, just close to the Apapa Wharf, the inescapable reality that there is still a sovereign authority elsewhere to which the Nigerian state must take directives from since Nigeria is part of the UN family.
In his Speech, Kayanja told the people that the UN takes seriously the issues of tolerance among people irrespective of their nationality, background, culture and religion. He admonished them to eschew tribal bigotry and hate attitudes capable of breaching public peace and endangering the lives and property of city dwellers.
According to him, discrimination in any form either by state actors or individuals is offensive to UN doctrines. He urged citizens not to take laws into their hands when provoked.
His words: “I bring this message from the United Nations Secretariat. The UN Secretary General and the entire Secretariat are pursuing policies to promote peace, safety of our human society and progress in the world. We realise that our humanity is diverse, and so we must pursue those causes that promote peaceful co-existence by respecting the rights of others. It is on this premise that the UN was founded in the first place and Nigeria is signatory to the conventions on tolerance which we mark today.”
The UN Secretariat is pursuing peace in many parts of the world in order to build a safer world where every individual or group enjoys their right as enshrined in UN charters, the UN chief noted, stressing that only in an atmosphere of peace can economic progress be made, and with economic progress reaching everywhere, Nigerians would be happy wherever they are.
The man, Ronald Kayanja
United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, announced the appointment of Ronald Kayanja of Uganda as the Director of UNIC in Lagos, Nigeria. Kayanja assumed his new duties on April 1, 2015.
Since November 2011, Kayanja has held the position of United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Adviser for Communication and Information in West Africa, covering Benin Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo, working on media, communication and the use of information and communication technology (ICT) tools for development in those countries.
In this role, Kayanja has supported capacity building of journalists, promotion of press freedom and safety of journalists, in addition to policy dialogue with member states on the use of community media. Most recently, he led UNESCO’s response to the Ebola crisis in Liberia and Sierra Leone through the use of community media.
He also has UN mission experience, serving as Programme Officer with the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste from June 2007 until October 2011. He worked with the UN Mission, the UN agencies, national authorities and civil society on mechanisms of strengthening the participation of media and civil society in the nascent democracy of Timor-Leste. He has worked as a public information officer for more than 15 years, with field experience in the Philippines, the Syrian Arab Republic, Uganda, Zambia and Timor.