PRAWA seeks nationwide data of detention centres

The Prisoners' Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA) has called for a national database of detention centers and the provision of a tamper-proof register of all persons put under arrest in the country.

This is contained in a statement by the Executive Director, PRAWA, Dr. Uju Agomoh, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Agomoh said that this would make it easy to track cases of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment of arrested and detained persons in Nigeria.

She said that the comprehensive database should include locations, the number of persons detained, their compliance with international human rights standards, and other relevant information.

Agomoh said that there should also be a system that ensures unhindered access to detention centers for detainees' families, counsel, medical doctors, and NGOs, which would go a long way toward ending torture.

She added that the complete tracking of the whereabouts of all detainees from the point of arrest to discharge was important.

The PRAWA executive director assured stakeholders of the organization's commitment to working with and collaborating with the government at all levels and with relevant stakeholders to end torture in Nigeria.

According to her, the 2022 International Human Rights Day offers an opportunity to reflect on the heightened cases of killings, maiming, kidnapping, and dehumanization of citizens by criminal elements.

The Supreme reports that the theme of the year 2022's International Human Rights Day is "Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All."

She said that the theme was a call to collectively uphold equality, respect, and dignity for all humans, irrespective of class and status.

The PRAWA boss called for national action against the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.

Agomoh said torture undermines the respect and dignity of human beings and erodes the realisation of every other human right.

"Torture is condemnable, reprehensible and not permissible no matter the circumstance as it reaps a human being of his dignity and respect.

"It is an enabler of justice denial, as an innocent victim of mental or physical torture can in the circumstance confess to a crime he never committed.

"Torture could lead to death and once life is lost, all other human rights seize to exist.

"We call for action to ensure zero tolerance on torture for all detainees including children and young adults in conflict with the law and deprived of their liberty," she added.