The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has partnered with the Equality Development and Research Centre (EDR-centre), an NGO, to curb bullying in the workplace.
Mr Tony Ojukwu, the NHRC Executive Secretary, made stated this when the Founder of EDR-centre, Ms Marshal Nwanne, visited the commission in Abuja.
Ojukwu said that the commission is dedicated to combatting workplace bullying and envisioned targeting and ending all forms of inequality in the country.
The executive secretary welcomed the partnership and expressed hope that the two organisations would work together and achieve the desired result.
He said that there was no condition that justifies torture, describing it as “one human rights violation” that has no justification.
“Indeed, bullying is not good and we have been preaching and fighting against it alone. Thank God today we have a partner in EDR Centre that is ready to work squarely on this area.
” We are going to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with you so that the work we are doing in this area would not only be in the Federal Capital but across the 36 states where the Commission has offices.
“Now that we are going to work together, I believe that very soon society will feel the impact,” he said.
He said that the first place to focus on would be the family, schools and other institutions among others.
According to him, Nigerians generally have been bullied to the extent that they have seen it as normal.
“Unfortunately, a lot of people are depressed, some have gone into mental torture because of one form of bullying or another,” he said.
Earlier, Nwanne who appreciated the partnership with the commission, urged victims to speak up and not to keep silent.
She explained that it was worthwhile to stop the act of bullying, which she noted leads to depression mental torture and even death.
The founder wondered why the act of bullying goes on in society without the culprits being brought to justice.
Nwanne called for legislation to make perpetrators account for their actions.
