Women file nearly all human rights complaints at the National Human Rights Commission's Kaduna office. About 95 percent of grievances come from female residents, officials revealed Tuesday.
Tengu Gwar, the Kaduna State Coordinator, made the disclosure at a consultative meeting on the National Action Plan. The gathering brought together government agencies and civil society groups in the state capital.
Most complaints involve sexual violence and gender-based abuse, Gwar explained. Women also report family abandonment, inheritance disputes, and various forms of discrimination.
"At our Kaduna office, about 95 percent of monthly and yearly complaints come from women," he told attendees. "This data reveals how many face different human rights violations."
He noted that grievances cover sexual and gender-based violence extensively. Family abandonment, inheritance issues, and discrimination feature prominently in case files.
Gwar described the National Action Plan as Nigeria's comprehensive policy for protecting human rights. It aims to safeguard civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights nationwide.
Tuesday's meeting sought to raise awareness about the NAP framework. Officials wanted to clarify which ministries and agencies bear responsibility for implementation in Kaduna.
"We're here to popularise this document and create awareness around it," Gwar said. "We need to define clearly what each ministry and department must do."
He identified women, children, and persons with disabilities as priority groups. Cases involving these vulnerable populations continue rising daily, he warned.
Aisha Abdul-Mohamed represented the International Federation of Women Lawyers at the forum. She called the stakeholder engagement crucial for strengthening rights protection locally.
"This NAP is very important because the Human Rights Commission's work depends on it," Abdul-Mohamed told reporters. "It's a strategic document requiring regular review for proper state-level implementation."
She stressed that lawyers and civil society must join implementation from the start. This ensures accountability and effective enforcement of protections, she argued.
Abdul-Mohamed admitted she'd only just learned about the National Action Plan. "I believe it deserves further development specifically for Kaduna State," she noted, "because it's a crucial document."
Gabriel Onovo, Executive Director of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Hub, raised another concern. Many Kaduna residents don't know the Human Rights Commission exists or how to access it.
"In terms of awareness, this engagement matters tremendously," Onovo said. "Plenty of people don't know about these action plans or where to seek help when rights get violated."
He emphasised that broader public education campaigns remain necessary. Without them, vulnerable populations won't know their rights or available remedies.
