African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) is partnering with Amnesty International to push for whistleblower and human rights protection. The partnership was agreed upon during a meeting between the two organizations held July 23, 2024, at AFRICMIL’s office in Abuja.
In attendance at the meeting, among others, were Coordinator of AFRICMIL, Dr Chido Onumah, who led his organization’s team, and Isa Sanusi, Country Director of Amnesty International, who equally led his own organization’s team.
Speaking during the meeting, Dr Onumah highlighted the importance of whistleblowers and the role they play in the fight against corruption and the protection of human rights. He said, “Over the years, they have uncovered and disclosed information on various alleged corrupt and suspicious dealings linked to political and business figures leading to wider public debate about corruption and the need for accountability, the adoption of transparency regulations, investigation by national authorities and international bodies, and the prosecution and condemnation of some of those involved.”
Dr Onumah further pointed out that instead of whistleblowers being recognized for their work; instead of their participation in the fight against corruption being encouraged, in practice whistleblowers are hindered by those whose interests they threaten. He said, “Some face reprisals such as dismissal, threats, physical violence or abusive legal proceedings, while others are forced into exile or even killed.”
According to the AFRICMIL Coordinator, “Whistleblowers face a lack of a safe and enabling legal environment that can allow them to report wrongdoing without fear of reprisals. This is compounded by the existence of ineffective access to information laws that would enable them and others to obtain information held by public bodies and empower them to hold powerful individuals and entities to account, as well as the lack of effective and independent judicial institutions that could provide access to justice and effective remedies for human rights violations.”
To address these challenges, Dr Onumah informed the Amnesty International team that AFRICMIL is organizing two events, the first being a national seminar on whistleblowing, corruption, and human rights. He said the seminar will explore the link between whistleblowing and human rights as well as take stock of the situation of whistleblowers in Nigeria, including the specific challenges facing human rights defenders.
Additionally, Dr Onumah hinted that the second event will be a sub-regional conference on whistleblowing and whistleblower protection in West Africa. The conference will, among other issues, explore strategies for strengthening a sub-regional coalition, Whistleblowing Advocacy Coalition of West Africa (WACOWA), and propose mechanisms for engaging the various member states’ parliaments on the need for legal protection for whistleblowers.
In his response, Sanusil expressed his organization’s willingness to partner with AFRICMIL on the two events, and the broader issues of whistleblower and human rights protection. According to him, these are the kinds of initiatives needed to promote human rights and protection for whistleblowers. He said that Amnesty International had consistently published an annual report on the condition of human rights across the world, and he went on to present copies of the organization’s latest report to the AFRICMIL Coordinator.
Sanusi further welcomed AFRICMIL’s invitation to collaborate on the substantive issues discussed, and also promised that Amnesty International will be open to other collaborations with AFRICMIL in the future.
