NACA, Human Right Commission collaborate on HIV, Covid 19.
Two Nigeria’s Agencies, the National Human Rights Commission and the National Agency for the Control of HIV and AIDS, NACA have resolved to work together to address the impact of HIV and Covid 19 in the Human Rights of Nigeria.
In Abuja on Wednesday, the two commissions entered into a working agreement to pursue a common goal to end the Two diseases in Nigeria by 2030.
The Director General of National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu said that as a result of the lockdown of the economy to contain the spread of the Corona Virus, Many Nigerians suffered Human Rights abuse including illegal arrests and detentions and extrajudicial killings.
Ojukwu said that rape and other sexual abuses also rose exponentially forcing the commission to activate its protective mandate and partnership with civil society organizations to respond to the situation.
He promised that in collaboration with its development partners, the Human Rights Commission will work with the National Agency for the Control of HIV and AIDS to address the Human rights abuses occasioned by both the Corona Virus and HIV and AIDS.
The Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr Aliyu Gambo observed that any disease that spreads through human contact creates stigmatization and discrimination which are human rights violations.
Dr Gambo said that it is possible to fight such violation and gender-based violence through the mobilization of citizens to demand for services that provide information on their status and access to services that control and mitigate the diseases. He called for equity in accessing the services necessary for the control of both Corona Virus and HIV.
The Executive Director, United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, Winnie Byanyima, who expressed happiness at the collaboration between the two Agencies said that the UN agency would support those engaged in Tackling and challenging the mindset of Nigeria on human rights.
The National Human Rights Commission and the National Agency for the control of AIDS are now to work together to eradicate stigmatization and discrimination against affected persons as well as reduce gender-based violence in Nigeria.
