PREAMBLE.
Inspired by the UN Decade for Human Rights Education (1995- 2004) aimed at imparting knowledge, skill and moulding of attitude to secure quality life of Human Dignity.
Regretting the widespread ignorance amongst Nigerian populace of their Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms on account of prolonged military dictatorship
Understanding that the worst enemy of democracy is ignorant citizens.
Appreciating that Education is the light of the mind and people are bound to live in indignity when they lack knowledge of their Human Rights.
Convinced that each individual in order realize his full human potential must be made aware of all his/her Human Rights.
Recognizing that Nigerian citizens, being rightholders are entitled to be empowered with knowledge of all Human Rights and their duties under Human Rights Instruments ratified by Nigeria.
Whereas it is expedient that the Nigerian citizens as well as administrative and judicial authorities should know their Rights under the Human Rights treaties ratified by Nigeria and understand the obligation the State assumed thereunder.
Considering that Human Rights Education is essential for promotion and achievement of State and harmonious relation among different races/tribes, religious groups and communities and fostering of mutual understanding, tolerance and peace.
Determined to impart and inculcate the Human Rights standard, values, norms, tenets and virtues on the citizens and government so that Human Rights values/parameter should guide the policies and actions of the State.
Determined also to correct the wrong notion that Human Rights is purely a legal concept.
Understanding that unless and until people for whom and in whose interest Human Rights exist, know, asserts and defend them, the Rights will remain death letters in the instrument.
Whereas PRO is determined to be a change agent and to provide information and knowledge that would enable people play active role in the development of their communities.
Understanding that the purpose of Human Rights is to protect Human Dignity.
Lamenting the general lack of public confidence and hope in the leadership of the present government in Nigerian account of lack of focus, vision and culpable misgovernance.
Regretting the presence of intolerance, insecurity, inequality and social, economic and political injustice, as well as extreme poverty in Nigeria, which is violative of the Human Rights of the people.
Welcoming the need to develop capacity for good governance.
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THE PHILOSOPHY.
The project is aimed at promoting societal transformation based on Human Rights and Human Dignity by roofing Human Rights in different cultural traditions and thereby creating a culture of Human Rights. Human Rights under the project would play a reformative role in the life of the people by educating and empowering individuals and groups about Human Rights so that conducts leading to denial of Rights will be changed and all Rights will be respected and civil society transformed into a peace and participating model. The abstract norms and values in Human Rights instruments would be translated/downloaded to the reality of their social, economic, political and cultural conditions in the daily lives of the people. The essence being to let the people be guided by basic Human Rights values, thus making Human Rights a common standard or denominator that would regulate relations between different people and various segments that make up Nigeria society. The philosophy is further geared towards eradication of ignorance and primitivity through change of mentality by creating possible awareness and understanding of all the norms, concepts, tenets and values of Human Rights enshrined in the Human Rights instruments.
Thus, using Human Rights framework as a guide for achieving economic, social and political justice for all. The foregoing would nurture democratic values and sustain impulses for democratization and would enable individuals to solve their disagreements and conflicts by the use of non-violent method.
This project accords with the policy of Nigeria that has ratified major Human Rights instruments. It follows therefore that government should respect the standard and values set by the instrument and ensure that individuals and its institutions are held accountable when Human Rights are not realized.
OBJECTIVES :
(1) To educate and empower the people with knowledge of their Human Rights (civil, political, social, economic and cultural) and Fundamental Freedoms to see themselves in a new light and enable them to understand their potentials and the ways and means of changing existing abnormal situations.
(2) To formulate and convey the holistic Human Rights values, norms, tenets and standards in a way meaningful to people's daily lives and make it known to, and understood by all people as a powerful tool for action.
(3) To develop cadres of Human Rights educators for social, economic and cultural transformation who will work in grassroot communities, schools and those that would educate and empower law enforcement officials.
(4) To impart knowledge of Human Rights and skills and moulding of attitudes of the citizens with a view to fully develop human personality and their sense of worth and Dignity as well as promotion of understanding, tolerance and gender equality amongst all people.
(5) To impart in the youths the lofty ideas of Human Dignity and equal Rights for all persons without any discrimination.
(6) To ensure that Nigerian government having ratified major Human Rights treaties respect, protects and fulfils the standards and values set out therein and aligns its domestic laws with treaty provisions.
(7) To designate certain selected cities as Human Rights cities to serve as a model for in dept learning about Human Rights (civil, political, economic and social) and analysis of causes of violations and the designing of ways to achieve the fulfillment of Human Rights in those cities. The cities are Aba, Abuja, Enugu, Lagos and Taraba Port Harcourt.
(8) To do the following:-
(a) To advocate for the practice of the norms, principles and values of good governance and increase the capacities of the various stakeholders to practice to enable the people participate in sustainable development.
(b) To carry out Human Rights public information dissemination through the media periodicals and books.
(c) To document the Rights violations of the past in a quarterly, half yearly or yearly report.
(d) Taking up public impart litigation (PIL) and running legal clinic for potential and actual victims of Rights abuses.
(e) To develop the civil society in the target cities into a vibrant and virile one to facilitate the transformation process.
VISION :To build and sustain Human Rights culture in Nigeria through Human Rights Education and Advocacy.
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