By Amaka Amaka
A Non- Governmental Organization AVOCATS SANS FRONTIERS has called for an end to torture of victims in police custody.
The PROCAT case Law Manager, Mrs Edigie Amihere made the call when she paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman of Nigeria Union of journalists NUJ Enugu State Council, Comrade Sam Udekwe at the press centre.
Mrs Amihere emphasized that the AVOCATS SAN FRONTIERS aims to defend fundamental human rights of citizens by sustaining the development rights of rule of law, access to justice, the fight against injustice and the right to fair trial.
She said they can do this through the defence work of independent and impartial lawyers.
According to her, “the organization is working in line with PROCAT, Promoting the United Nations Convention Against Torture (CAT) which wants no one to be subjected to inhumanity, degrading treatment or punishment”.
Stating that ADVOCAT had been embarking on capacity building training for journalists in some States especially Enugu she
advocated continued collaboration with media practitioners in sensitizing the public on their activities and what they should do when their rights were trampled on.
Responding, the Secretary of the Council, Dame Ifeoma Amuta, who represented the Chairman, Comrade Sam Udekwe emphasized that the sensitization against torture was apt and commended the efforts of PROCAT to eliminate torture by some security personnel.
Amuta maintained that Human Rights reportage remained a specialized beat which required special training by reporters to function well.
she promised collaboration and synergy between journalists in the state and the
organization to sensitize the public and the rural dwellers on their rights over torture to extract information from them when in detention.
Highlight of the visit was group picture with the council executive led by the Vice Chairman of NUJ, Enugu State Comrade Regis Anukwuorji and the AVOCAT team who posed with ProCAT fliers.
