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World map Nigeria








Introduction





Asia

Europe and Central Asia

Middle East and North Africa

Special Issues and Campaigns

United States

Arms

Children’s Rights

Women’s Human Rights

Appendix




Defending Human Rights
Nigeria’s numerous and sophisticated human rights groups continued their activities of monitoring, advocacy, and education throughout the year, despite routine harassment by the authorities, especially before the death of General Abacha. Officers of the State Security Service (SSS) visited the offices of human rights and independent news organizations to intimidate staff, destroy property and confiscate publications; human rights activists and journalists writing critically about the government were detained on a number of occasions; others were prevented from traveling abroad to attend international gatherings at which Nigeria was to be discussed. Following Abacha’s death, most human rights advocates and journalists in detention were released, and respect for the right to monitor significantly improved, though some activists still encountered problems in attempting to travel outside the country.

The government-appointed National Human Rights Commission, created in 1996, held or attended a number of meetings to discuss human rights issues, some of them arranged by nongovernmental human rights groups such as the Constitutional Rights Project. The commission also recommended reforms to the new head of state, General Abubakar, including the repeal of repressive decrees such as those allowing detention without charge.


Countries


Angola

Burundi

The Democratic Republic of Congo

Ethiopia

Kenya

Liberia

Mozambique

Nigeria

Rwanda

Sierra Leone

South Africa

Sudan

Uganda

Zambia


Campaigns


Stop the Use of Child Soldiers

Abduction and Enslavement of Ugandan Children

Human Rights Causes of the Famine in Sudan

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Human RIghts Watch