NHRC to advance human rights communication with global best practice

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Nigeria recently hosted a two-day training on Human Rights Reporting and Advocacy, aiming to enhance the commission's ability to communicate human rights issues effectively. The participants, who included NHRC staff members, committed to applying the knowledge gained to bolster human rights protection and promotion within the country, adhering to global best practices.

The training, held in Abuja, encompassed various aspects of human rights communication, such as graphic design using Canva, content creation and social media management, news writing, and storytelling from a human rights perspective. NHRC Executive Secretary Professor Tony Ojukwu emphasized that human rights protection is not solely achieved through investigations, interventions, and policy recommendations, but also via the accurate, clear, and strategic communication of human rights issues to ensure citizens understand their rights and responsibilities.

Ojukwu highlighted the importance of the digital environment in shaping the dissemination of human rights stories. He noted that the training would strengthen the NHRC's capacity to transform intricate human rights matters into captivating and easily digestible visual content, particularly for young people and digital audiences.

He also stressed that social media has emerged as a potent platform for public education, advocacy, and engagement to disseminate information, spotlight interventions, counter misinformation, and involve citizens.

Mrs Fatimah Agwai, the Director of Corporate Affairs and External Linkages Department, explained that the training's objective was to align the NHRC's operations with those of world-class National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI) worldwide, in line with Nigeria's A-Status accreditation by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI).

Agwai emphasized that A-Status is not merely an accolade but a testament to the NHRC's commitment to higher responsibility, demanding that the commission functions as an authoritative and impartial entity through its communication efforts.

Upon completing the training, participants pledged to utilize their newly acquired skills to produce superior content, intensify advocacy, enhance public engagement, and effect a greater impact in the promotion and defense of human rights in Nigeria, in line with global best practices.