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A civil society group, the Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project (SERAP), has petitioned the UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights, Navi Pillay, to facilitate the holding of a special session of
the UN Human Rights Council to address the deteriorating human rights situation
in Jos, Plateau State.

In the petition, dated 13 January 2011 and signed by counsel to
SERAP, Femi Falana, the group executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, said that,
“the holding of a special session on Jos would contribute to a speedy end to
the human rights crisis and violence, and to peace and greater respect for
human rights of the citizens in the area.”

Furthermore, it said the Council cannot be silent when innocent
civilians are caught up in violence, such as the one going on in Jos.

“The holding of a special session on Jos will be consistent with
the practice of the Human Rights Council regarding its previous special
sessions on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Lebanon; Darfur; Myanmar; the
Democratic Republic of the Congo; the Global Food Crisis and the Global
Economic and Financial Crises,” the group said.

“Nigeria is a member of the Human Rights Council, and has
ratified several UN human rights treaties, including the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights; and the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights.”

Failure of due diligence

The group also said that it believes that it is the failure of
the Nigerian government to exercise due diligence that have resulted in the
violations of human rights of citizens in Jos.

“Due diligence obligation requires the Nigerian government to
undertake measures to prevent abuses by state and non-state actors where
possible, investigate violations that occur, prosecute the perpetrators as
appropriate, and provide redress for victims,” it said.

“The government of Nigeria has international legal obligations
to respect the right to life; the right to security of the person; the right to
freedom of residence; including not to be forcibly displaced; the right to
property; the right to adequate housing; the right to adequate food and the
right to water; and freedom from cruel and inhuman treatment. All of these
internationally recognised human rights have been repeatedly violated in Jos on
a widespread scale,” the group added.

The SERAP said the government has promised to bring perpetrators
to justice but, like similar promises made in the past, these promises will
count for nothing.

“Successive governments have failed to implement the country’s
international legal obligations to respect, protect, and fulfill the human
rights of the people of Jos by persistently failing to deter and prevent
recurring outbreaks of violence, and by failing to effectively investigate and
prosecute suspected perpetrators,” the group said.

The group also asked the Nigerian government to ensure a more
secure environment for Nigerians, including those in Jos.

“Ask the Nigerian government to provide restitution,
compensation or both, as warranted, for damages resulting from the serious
violations of the human rights highlighted above,” SERAP said in the letter.