Avocats Sans Frontières France, ASF France has called on the Federal Government to urgently implement the Anti-Torture Act 2017, prosecute perpetrators of torture, and provide comprehensive support for survivors, warning that continued delays are undermining justice and encouraging impunity.
The rights organisation made the call on Friday to commemorate the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, expressing solidarity with survivors across Nigeria and renewing demands for stronger accountability mechanisms.
ASF France specifically urged the government to expedite the gazetting and enforcement of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Anti-Torture Act, ensure independent investigations and prosecutions of alleged offenders, and establish accessible medical, psychosocial and legal support services for victims.
According to the organisation, despite the enactment of the Anti-Torture Act in 2017, implementation has remained largely ineffective more than eight years later, leaving many survivors without access to justice, compensation and rehabilitation.
“Perpetrators of torture must be held accountable if Nigeria is to break the cycle of impunity,” said the Country Director, Avocats Sans Frontières France Nigeria, Angela Uwandu Uzoma-Iwuchukwu.
“Gazetting the IRR must be followed immediately with training for law enforcement, funding for rehabilitation, and visible prosecutions. Survivors cannot wait any longer for justice,” she added.
ASF France welcomed recent indications from the Federal Ministry of Justice that the Implementing Rules and Regulations for the Anti-Torture Act have reached the gazetting stage, describing the development as a positive step towards full implementation of the law.
The organisation, however, stressed that operational rules are critical for effective investigations, prosecutions and victim support mechanisms.
Since commencing anti-torture interventions in Nigeria in 2009, ASF France said it has provided direct legal assistance to more than 1,000 torture survivors through legal aid, documentation, advocacy and rehabilitation support initiatives.
According to the organisation, many of the beneficiaries have successfully pursued redress through Nigerian courts and regional human rights mechanisms.
ASF France noted that torture remains a crime under both Nigerian and international law and argued that meaningful observance of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture requires more than symbolic commitments.
“Honouring survivors means moving from law on paper to justice in practice,” the organisation stated.
The group reiterated its commitment to supporting victims of torture and other human rights violations through its anti-torture programmes and the eRIGHTS project, which provides free legal assistance to vulnerable persons across Nigeria.
The International Day in Support of Victims of Torture is observed annually on June 26 to promote the eradication of torture worldwide and to support survivors in their pursuit of justice, rehabilitation and dignity.
