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By: AbdulMalik Ishowo.
The promotion and protection of human rights for all and the rule of law is essential to all citizens and sundry , recognizing that the effective counter terrorism measures and the promotion of human rights are not conflicting goals, but they are complementary and mutually reinforcing.
However, the human cost of terrorism has been felt in virtually every corner of the world.Terrorism distinctly has a very obvious and direct impact on the human rights, with devastating consequences for the enjoyment of the right to life, liberty, and physical integrity of victims.
In Addition to these individuals costs, terrorism can disintegrate Governments, undermine civil society, jeopardize peace and security, and even threaten social and economic development. All of these also have a sincere Impact on the enjoyment and freedom of the human rights.
Security of the individual is a basic human right and the protection of individual is, accordingly, a fundamental obligation of Government.States as well therefore have an obligation to make sure that the human rights of their nations and others are safeguarded and protected by taking positive measures to protect them against the threat of terrorist acts and bringing the perpetrators of such acts to book.
I have been in the world over a decade ago, and in recent years, the measures adopted by states to fight terrorism have evidently posed serious challenges to human rights and the rule of law. Some states have engaged in torture and other Ill treatment to counter terrorism, while the legal and practical safeguards available to prevent torture like regular and independent monitoring of detention centres, have often been disregarded.
Other states have returned persons suspected of engaging in terrorist activities to countries where they face the wrath of their ludicrous acts. Thereby, violating the international legal obligation. Moreover, the independence of the judiciary has been undermined in some places, while the use of exceptional courts to try civilians has had an impact on the effectiveness and efficiency of regular court systems.
Repressive measures have been used to stifle the voices of human rights, defenders, journalists, minorities, indigenous groups and civil society. Resources normally allocated to social programs and development assistance have been diverted to the security sector, affecting the economic, social and cultural rights of many.
These practices, particularly when taken together, have a corrosive effect on the rule of law, good governance and human rights. They are also counter productive to national and international efforts to fight against terrorism.
Respect for human rights and the rule of law must be the bedrock of the global fight against terrorism. This requires the development of national counter terrorism strategies that seek to prevent acts of terrorism, prosecute those responsible for such criminal acts and foster, promote and protect human rights and the rule of law.
It implies measures to address the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism, including the lack of rule of law and violations of human rights, ethnic, national and religious discrimination, political exclusion, and Socio economic marginalization as the case may be—to encourage the active participation and leadership of civil society; to criticize human rights violations, prohibit them in national law, promptly investigate and prosecute them, and prevent them; and to give due attention to the rights of victims of human rights violations, for instance through restitution and compensation.
What is terrorism?
To my comprehension as a university student,terrorism is commonly understood as the acts of violence that target civilians in the pursuit of political and ideological aims. In 1994, the General Assembly Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism, set out in its resolution 49/60,stated that terrorism includes criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in the general public, a group of persons or particular persons as the case may be for political, philosophical, ideological, racial, ethnic, religious or other nature that may be invoked to justify them.
Even in Nigeria, its very unfortunate that terrorism is a common problem affecting the country, despite the effort of the government towards the fight of terrorism in the country. The country is still suffering of security, we have the Boko Harams who ludicrously attack their fellow colleagues, be it in the Place of worship, schools, workplace and other different locations to numerous to mention.
The country needs a rescue mission, and how can that be done? It can only be done through change of power and governance. We need charismatic and altruistic leaders that will see to our cause, and pilot our affairs in a sophisticated and in a judicious manner. However, i think what we need now in the country is for youths to rule. Subsequently, things might go the way it suppose to go.
ISHOWO, Abdulmalik
Ishowomk2004@gmail.com
Ishowo is a 200L Student of University of llorin, Kwara State.
