The statement was delivered by Ingye Dominic Dooyum of the Advocacy for Alleged Witches, an Associate of Humanists International. Dominic Dooyum made the statement by video during the adoption of Nigeria’s UPR* at the 56th Session of the UN Human Rights Council.
The organizations welcomed Nigeria’s acceptance of several UPR recommendations related to addressing discrimination, violence, and harmful traditional practices. The statement called on the government of Nigeria to implement the accepted UPR recommendations by “enacting legislation to prohibit witch hunts and ensure perpetrators of [such] violence are held accountable”. The statement urged the government to collaborate with human rights organizations within Nigeria.
Ingye Dominic Dooyum delivers a video statement at the UN.
The work of the Advocacy for Alleged Witches was recently highlighted after the organization received a development grant from Humanists International to address human rights abuses and protect the rights of alleged witches across Nigeria.
It also follows a joint submission made by several members and associates of Humanists International to the UN. This submission was coordinated by Humanists International and highlighted witchcraft-related abuses in Nigeria, Malawi, Uganda, and India, to the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights.
*The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a UN process which involves a periodic review of the human rights records of all 193 UN Member States, by each other. It is a unique human rights mechanism in so far as it addresses all countries and all human rights. The Working Group on the UPR, which is composed of the Human Rights Council’s 47 Member States and chaired by the Human Rights Council President, conducts country reviews. Humanists International supports its members in engagement with the process.
Featured photo by Emmanuel Ikwuegbu on Unsplash
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