TREATIES OF NIGERIA (HUMAN RIGHTS)

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NIGERIA: TREATIES ON HUMAN RIGHTS, THE FAMILY, CHILDREN, WOMEN & SOCIO-ECONOMIC MATTERS

Nigeria’s international human rights obligations are contained in international human rights instruments ratified by the country – and in some cases, obligation erga omnes and jus cogens arising from the so-called international peremptory norms. Categories covered by human rights treaties or conventions/protocols and featured on this page include

Anti-Discrimination (On Basis of Religion, Race, Gender, Etc.)
Rights of the Child
Women’s Rights
Anti-Slavery Practices
Protection from Torture & Disappearance
Freedom of Association
Employment & Labour
Education
Refugees & Asylum
Aliens, Statelessness & Citizenship
War, War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity & Genocide (War & War Crimes)
Terrorism
Privileges & Immunities of Internationally Protected Employees

International human rights instruments applicable to Nigeria are developed and/or administered by various platforms ranging from global organisations like the United Nations and regional ones like the African Union or Economic Community of West African State.

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS STATUTES

HUMAN RIGHTS INSTRUMENTS ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: NIGERIA’S RATIFICATION STATUS

Human Rights Instrument/Convention	Nigeria: Ratification Status
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination :1969	Signature: NA, Ratification/Accession: 1967
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights :1976	Signature: NA, Ratification/Accession: 1993
Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: 1976	Signature: NA, Ratification/Accession: NA
Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty: 1991	Signature: NA, Ratification/Accession: NA
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights :1976	Signature: NA, Ratification/Accession: 1993
Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: 2013	Signature: NA, Ratification/Accession: NA
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: 1981	Signature: 1984, Ratification/Accession: 1985
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women: 2000	Signature: 2000, Ratification/Accession: 2004
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment: 1987	Signature: 1988, Ratification/Accession: 2001
Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment :2006	Signature: NA, Ratification/Accession: 2009
Convention on the Rights of the Child: 1990	Signature: 1990, Ratification/Accession: 1991
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict: 2002	Signature: 2000, Ratification/Accession: 2012
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography: 2002	Signature: 2000, Ratification/Accession: 2010
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure :2014	Signature: NA, Ratification/Accession: NA
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families: 2003	Signature: NA, Ratification/Accession: 2009
International Convention for the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance: 2010	Signature: NA, Ratification/Accession: 2009
center-for-nigerian-treaties-human-family-socio-economic-matters#Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: 2008	Signature: 2007, Ratification/Accession: 2010
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: 2008	Signature: 2007, Ratification/Accession: 2010
Source: United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

GENERAL HUMAN RIGHTS TREATY BY CATEGORIES

NIGERIA AND INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INTEREST: RATIFICATION STATUS
Human Rights Instrument	Signature	Ratification	Accession	Succession	Entry into Force
GENERAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTRUMENTS
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights			29 Jul 1993
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights			29 Jul 1993
Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights	Not signed
Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty	Not signed
PREVENTION OF DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF RACE, RELIGION, OR BELIEF; AND PROTECTION OF MINORITIES
Title of Instrument	Signature	Ratification	Accession	Succession	Entry into Force
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination			16 Oct 1967
WOMEN AND HUMAN RIGHTS INSTRUMENTS
Title of Instrument	Signature	Ratification	Accession	Succession	Entry into Force
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women	23 Apr 1984	13 Jun 1985
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women	8 Sep 2000
United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime	13 Dec 2000	28 Jun 2001
Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime Preamble, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime	13 Dec 2000	28 Jun 2001
Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime	13 Dec 2000	27 Sep 2001
SLAVERY AND SLAVERY-LIKE PRACTICES
Title of Instrument	Signature	Ratification	Accession	Succession	Entry into Force
Slavery Convention	Not signed
Protocol amending the Slavery Convention	Not signed
Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade, and Institutions and Practices Similar to Slavery				26 Jun 1961
Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others	25 Sep 2003
PROTECTION FROM TORTURE, ILL-TREATMENT AND DISAPPEARANCE
Title of Instruments	Signature	Ratification	Accession	Succession	Entry into Force
European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment	Not signed
Protocol No. 1 to the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment	Not signed
Protocol No. 2 to the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment	Not signed
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment	28 Jul 1988	28 Jun 2001
Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment			27 Jul 2009
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance			27 Jul 2009
RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
Title of Instrument	Signature	Ratification	Accession	Succession	Entry into Force
Convention on the Rights of the Child	26 Jun 1990	19 Apr 1991
Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflicts	8 Sep 2000	25 Sep 2012
Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour		2 Oct 2002
FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION
Title of Instrument	Signature	Ratification	Accession	Succession	Entry into Force
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention		17 Oct 1960
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention		17 Oct 1960
EMPLOYMENT AND FORCED LABOUR
Title of Instruments	Signature	Ratification	Accession	Succession	Entry into Force
Convention concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour		17 Oct 1960
Equal Remuneration Convention		8 May 1974
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention		17 Oct 1960
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention		2 Oct 2002
Employment Policy Convention	Not signed
Convention concerning Occupational Safety and Health and the Working Environment	Not signed
Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families	Not signed
EDUCATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Title of Instruments	Signature	Ratification	Accession	Succession	Entry into Force
Convention against Discrimination in Education		Ratified
REFUGEES AND ASYLUM
Title of Instruments	Signature	Ratification	Accession	Succession	Entry into Force
Convention relating to the Status of Refugees			23 Oct 1967
Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees			2 May 1968
NATIONALITY, STATELESSNESS, AND THE RIGHTS OF ALIENS
Title of Instruments	Signature	Ratification	Accession	Succession	Entry into Force
Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness			20 Sep 2011
Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons	Not signed
WARS, WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, GENOCIDE, AND TERRORISM
Title of Instrument	Signature	Ratification	Accession	Succession	Entry into Force
Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity			1 Dec 1970
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide			27 Jul 2009
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court	1 Jun 2000	27 Sep 2001
Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field		20 Jul 1961 (rat/acced)
Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea		20 Jul 1961 (rat/acced)
Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War		20 Jul 1961 (rat/acced)
Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War		10 Oct 1988 (rat/acced)
Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and Relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I)		10 Oct 1988 (rat/acced)
Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and Relating to the Protection of Victims on Non-International Armed Conflicts (Protocol II)		10 Oct 1988 (rat/acced)
TERRORISM AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Title of Instruments	Signature	Ratification	Accession	Succession	Entry into Force
International Convention Against the Taking of Hostages			24 Sep 2013
International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombing			24 Sep 2013
International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism	1 Jun 2000	16 Jun 2003
International Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft			3 Jul 1973
International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against International Protected Persons			25 Sep 2012
U.N. ACTIVITIES AND EMPLOYEES
Title of Instruments	Signature	Ratification	Accession	Succession	Entry into Force
Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations				26 Jun 1961
Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel	Not signed
Source: University of Minnesota Human Rights Library

AFRICAN HUMAN RIGHTS CONVENTIONS/TREATIES (MULTILATERAL TREATIES)

Convention/Treaty	Date of Adoption	Date of Entry into Force	Date of Signature	Date of Ratification
Additional Protocol to the OAU General Convention on Privileges and Immunities	June 1, 1980	Pending	Pending	Pending
African (Banjul) Charter on Human and People’s Rights	June 1, 1981	October 21, 1986	31/08/1982	22/06/1983
African Charter on Rights and Welfare of the Child	July 1, 1990	November 29, 1999	13/07/1999	23/07/2001
African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (Before Review )	September 15, 1968	June 16, 1969	15/09/1968	02/04/1974
African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (Revised)
African Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Pelindaba Treaty)	April 11, 1996	July 15, 2001	11/04/1996	20/04/2000
African Refugee Convention	Sept. 10 1969	Jan. 20, 1974		1986
African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Kampala Convention)	October 23, 2009	Pending	23/10/2009	Pending
African Union Non-Aggression and Common Defence Pact	January 1, 2005	December 18, 2009	02/07/2007	Pending
African Youth Charter	July 2, 2006	August 8, 2009	02/07/2007	21/04/2009
Agreement for the Establishment of the African Rehabilitation Institute, ARI	July 17, 1985	December 2, 1991	Pending	13/05/2002
Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa			10 Sep 1969	23 May 1986
Constitutive Act of the African Union	November 7, 2000	May 26, 2001	08/09/2000	29/03/2001
General Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Organization of African Unity	October 25, 1965	October 25, 1965	25/10/1965	21/10/1966
Inter-African Convention Establishing an African Technical Co-operation Programme	August 1, 1975	Pending	Pending	Pending
OAU Convention for the Elimination of Mercenarism in Africa	July 3, 1977	April 22, 1985	10/02/1978	14/05/1986
OAU Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism	July 1, 1999	December 6, 2002	26/04/2002	28/04/2002
Organization of African Unity Charter	25 May, 1963	Pending	Pending	Pending
Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights	June 10, 1998	January 25, 2004	09/06/2004	20/05/2004
Protocol to the African Charter on Human & Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa	July 1, 2003	November 25, 2005	16/12/2003	16/12/2004
Protocol to the African Court of Justice of the African Union	July 1, 2003	February 11, 2009	16/12/2003	Pending
Protocol on Amendments to the Constitutive Act of the African Union	July 11, 2003	Pending	02/07/2007	Pending
Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union	October 9, 2002	December 26, 2003	09/07/2002	23/12/2003
Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community Relating to the Pan-African Parliament	March 2, 2001	December 14, 2003	08/06/2001	23/12/2003