Nkoyo Toyo champions rights in Nigeria By Toye Olori SIX KEY areas of concern are likely to form the nucleus of civil society’s representation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting later this week, says Nkoyo Toyo, the executive director of the Lagos-based Gender and Development Action (GADA) and chairperson of the Commonwealth Peoples Forum 2003 steering committee.

Topping the list is human rights and governance followed by sustainable development, HIV and Aids, reproductive health, gender and the status of young people. Civil society will also put its perspective on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act and the World Trade Organisation’s trade round into its final declaration.

For Nigerian civil society, “the predominant interest has come from groups advocating better governance and human rights which we consider the main issues CHOGM leaders need to address in Abuja,” said Toyo.

“I think we cannot assume that because we have civil government in Nigeria that human rights issues have been solved. The question to access to justice for people who have been imprisoned is a human rights issue and there are others.”

Fundamental is the recognition that women’s rights are human rights. For eight years, GADA has carried out several programmes, including the first ever summit for women in politics – an event that led to women contesting elections.

According to Toyo, Nigerian women are better off now than before, as there is a greater consciousness today than it was before, not only with regard to political representation. “In the area of health, there is now a realisation that the health of men is as important as the health of women particularly in the area of reproductive health.

“The issue of women is a very pertinent issue, one that will continue to engage many of us for a long time to come.

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