Human and Community Rights Centre (HCRC) Blog

  Sudan War Termed As World’s Worst Humanitarian Crisis By The African Union AU said that the Sudan’s civil war is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. Saying that the war has affected hundreds of thousands of children by causing malnourishment to them. According to Mohamed Ibn the Chairman of the African Union panel on Sudan, he said the war has stopped access to humanitarian reliefs which has led to inadequate food and serious hunger. ‘‘Furthermore, he said the continuous abuse of children, women and the elderly and the sick lack of medical assistance can be referred to as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.’’ HCRC News Photocredit: Unsplash 

Minister Melanie Joly Launches Standing Committee On Human Rights The Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly announced that a first standing table of human rights will be established in Canada under the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The minister said the protection and promotion of human rights shall continue to be the aim Canadian foreign policy. In the face of increasing threats to human rights defenders and global uncertainty, Canada’s leadership in this area is more important than ever. The standing table will unite Canada civil society leaders and human rights experts to offer the minister and senior officials’ independent insights and advice on human rights issues across all facets of Canada’s foreign policy.  HCRC News Photocredit: Unsplash   

  NHRC Raises Alarm Over Rising Rights Violation With a startling 169,850 complaints received from its 38 offices nationwide in January 2025 alone, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has once again expressed concern over a noted increase in human rights abuses throughout Nigeria.  At the January 2025 Human Rights Situation Dashboard presentation in Abuja, NHRC Executive Secretary Dr. Tony Ojukwu (SAN) issued a dire warning about the extent of rights abuses, citing extrajudicial killings, kidnappings, insurgency, and gender-based violence as the most common reported cases. “Each complaint represents a person, a family, or a community seeking justice and accountability. Our duty is not just to document these violations but to ensure tangible action follows,” Ojukwu stated. He claims that recent data show alarming patterns like increased insecurity, mass murders, and child abandonment. Ojukwu claimed that with 308 murders and 146 kidnappings reported nationwide, the stat...

  ·         A   A cybersecurity expert, Ademola Lawal, has called for the strengthening of Nigeria’s digital defences against cyber attacks. Lawal stated that Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Quantum Computing would help mitigate any cyber threats. The cybersecurity expert stated that, “Artificial intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Quantum Computing will help strengthen digital defences and mitigate attacks before they cause damage. AI and ML have already transformed cybersecurity by detecting threats faster than traditional methods. “These technologies analyze vast amounts of data, identifying patterns that signal potential attacks. Ademola Lawal, a leading expert in cybersecurity, emphasizes that machine learning continuously adapts, allowing security systems to recognize and respond to new threats in real-time. Automated defences powered by AI significantly reduce response times, preventing breaches before they escalate.”...

  President Donald Trump has signed an executive order sanctioning the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing it of “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel”. Trump signed the measure as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was visited Washington. The measure places financial and visa restrictions on individuals and their families who assist in ICC investigations of American citizens or allies Last year November, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza, which Israel denies. The ICC also issued a warrant for a Hamas commander. The ICC had earlier stated that there were “reasonable grounds” that Netanyahu, his former Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, and Mohammed Deif of Hamas bore “criminal responsibility for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. The US and Israel are not members of the court but more than 120 countries are members, including the UK and many European nations. The ...

Human rights organizations warned on Wednesday against Israeli's blocking of Gaza crossings for the fourth consecutive day, preventing the delivery of food, fuel, and other aid supplies to more than two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, stressing that the closure is part of Israel’s “starvation policy.” The Norwegian Refugee Council’s Communications Adviser in Palestine, Shaina Low, said that there is no major stockpile of tents in Gaza for Palestinians to rely on during the aid freeze. The aid that came in during the ceasefire’s first phase was “nowhere near enough to address all of the needs,” she said. During the ceasefire’s first phase, humanitarian agencies rushed in supplies and quickly ramped up their capabilities. Aid workers set up more food kitchens, health centers, and water distribution points.                             ...

  Renowned human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has filed a $5 million lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, for allegedly invading his privacy. The suit lodged before a Lagos High Court, accuses the social media giant of falsely associating him with a misleading health advertisement. Falana contends that Meta, owned by Mark Zuckerberg, published a video under the name 'AfriCare Health Center' on Facebook, falsely claiming that he had been battling prostatitis for over 16 years. He argues that this publication, which included his name, image, and purported voice, is a clear violation of his fundamental right to privacy as enshrined in Section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended) and the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023. Through his legal counsel, Olumide Babalola, Falana is seeking a court declaration that Meta's publication constitutes an invasion of his privacy. He has also requested an order. ...