The Human Project

Last December, I found out that someone very dear to me lost two teeth to domestic violence; her two upper incisors for that matter. You can't imagine my shock when she pulled out her artificial teeth which left a very big gap in her front teeth. I just sat there in utter shock and disbelief, staring.  "What is this?! " She smiled and said "it's love". I was livid. I already knew who did it because I've been a witness to it several times. None other but her husband!  I have tried without success to help her but she wouldn't let me. I once called a human rights NGO on her behalf, arranged a meeting which she refused to attend. I called her family. Sadly, they all said they were aware of her plight, but that she would end up seeing them as enemies if they interfered,  so they'd rather mind their business.  I can't tell her exact reason for choosing to stay, but I'm sure one of it is to "protect her marriage" like most ...

THEME : SpeakUP Domestic Violence is being tackled with the launch of 14 days social media awareness campaign on the subject. The campaign is headed by The Human Project , supported by Lawgical Arena .  The aim of the campaign is to change the social approach to the phenomenon of domestic violence. Victims are often pressurized by the society to remain in abusive relationships or say nothin g about it in order to “save” their relationships. Sadly, many people have lost their lives while some survivors are permanently destroyed physically or emotionally as a result of the torture and trauma they had to go through while trying to secure their abusive relationships. The aim of the campaign is to encouraging people to respond if they are witnesses to violence, strengthen victims to speak up and seek help, and admonish perpetrators to desist from such behavior. It aims to reduce violence at home and spread love.  The campaign is to run from 1st February to 14th February, 2021. W...

WHAT ABOUT WITCHCRAFT ALLEGATION? In Nigeria, witchcraft allegation is a critical factor in the violation of rights (especially elderly women's rights). The major reason for the abuse is the belief that they (so called witches) have the tendency to harm innocent people in strange concealed manners. Several people believe that they possess the magical powers to fly at night (like the popular Edo Airways) and travel far and wide to kill people, cause disease in humans, sudden death, bad luck and other misfortunes. People also strongly believe that when they want to harm their victims, they transform into animals and so on.  Who is a witch? Do witches really exist? Is witchcraftcy an imaginary offence? Is the practice of witchcraftcy merely a psychological matter? If witchcraftcy is an imaginary offence and therefore not real, as widely acclaimed by scholars, why do accusations and persecutions of this nature still persist?  The causes of this beliefs are complex and cannot be li...

It is settled in law that every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his or her person and as such MUST NOT be subjected to torture or degrading treatment,held in slavery and be required to perform or partake in forced or compulsory labour,etc. This and many more, The Human Project has taken care of in her introductory post on right to dignity of the human person.  Today, we would be looking at how this human right can be viewed in relation to the way and manner we treat househelps, care givers, etc and withcraft allegations in contemporary Nigeria.But first, let me tell us a story. Sometime in 2013, Affiong's parents passed on in a ghastly motor accident. Affiong who was fourteen years of age at the time, was rendered an orphan and being a young girl with UNFORTUNATE uncles and aunties, had no one to run to. Immediately the news of her Parents' death hit, a family meeting was called and amongst the topics of discussion, was who would take Affiong in and take c...

Uchechukwu looked on disdainfully at the three poor and miserly looking pieces of yam barely stained with red oil served in the name of dinner and for the umpteenth time wondered what could have been as the tears filled his eyes. He couldn’t understand why his parents thought education in a boarding school was the best, when he could rather be home devouring the regular pounded yam and egusi soup his mommy usually prepared on weekends such as this. He didn’t feel like eating but he had to quickly gulp down the meal; he needed strength for the evening round of bullying he would enjoy from the very many good senior students available on parade here. He would take that in good spirits, Afterall tomorrow is the promised visiting day when his parents would visit with all the goodies, he had missed for one month since resuming in Contemporary Modern School as a JSS1 boarding student. The Dee day is here, and he made sure he ate everything in sight. He started with the pounded yam and egusi h...

As our society gradually loses sanity, people are taking the law into their own hands. I have watched with dismay, horrific,disturbing videos of mob justice. Several times, I have seen the remains of people who were burned to death by angry mobs; what was once flesh and bone becoming charcoal on the streets. Sadly, innocent people have suffered this fate too.  Jungle justice is a form of mob rule in which people take the law into their hands and punish alleged offenders for perceived heinous crimes. Most times, it leads to extra-judicial killing. Therefore, victims are deprived of their right to dignity of the human person and most times, their right to life. The use of jungle justice by Nigerians to punish those who allegedly commit crimes is a reflection of the sad state of the country. An average Nigerian is angry and irritated. People have lost confidence in the criminal justice administration system; they believe that the moment the suspects are handed over to the police, our ...

I Can Only Imagine The pain in his heart And the bewilderment in his eyes As he looked helplessly at his captors The last moment of his life The very worst moment of his existence Admidst the curses and abuse He was still beaten and battered And ripped of his clothes Ah! he was finally set ablaze A cruel and barbaric judgment The guilty judged the guilty Even those with worse sins Notorious criminals get released from prisons But some get lynched at the spot Where is the Justice? Lets say no to Jungle Justice Alice Asuquo

What does this right imply? Dignity is the right of a person to be valued and respected for their own sake. It is the state or quality of being worthy of honour or respect. Human dignity is, therefore, the respect to which every person is entitled. Are you not guilty? Aunty, do you have a house help? How are you treating that little girl/boy you brought from the village? Shebi you promised you will send them to school? How far? Have you given them food today? Abi they are sleeping in your otung ikang? Ring worm wan uproot their scalp. Eczema wan tear their skin. Aunty, why are you wicked? Uncle, that woman you promised love, how far? Your own way of showing love is by beating her up like band abosuru (Apostolic Church band). You don’t have shame abi you no dey fear God? If you want to flex muscle, why you no go fight undertaker? Na woman you wan beat. Tueh! The other day, you follow burn person wey tiff garri for your area. Garri oh, because of hunger. Now person pikin don die. How man...