Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards

There is and always will be debate on who is a human rights defender. At a recent meeting in May 2013 at York University, UK, there were several sessions and academic interventions devoted to the topic (when the report is out, I will revert), but in the meantime is interesting to note the use of the term – posthumously – for one of the leading politicians in Nigeria:allAfrica.com reports that Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, on 10 June joined other prominent Nigerians to mourn the passing on of a chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Dr. Wahab Dosunmu, describing the deceased as a “passionate defender of human rights” and democratic governance.

In a statement Fashola said Dosunmu, who was a Second Republic Minister: “Dosunmu was a distinguished politician and a brilliant man who made a great contribution to the development and awareness of human rights in this country…..He was one of the most passionate defenders of the June 12 mandate of Abiola.”

allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Fashola Hails Dosumu As Defender of Human Rights.

This entry was posted on June 11, 2013 at 12:47 and is filed under human rights.

Tags: Abiola, Babatunde Fashola, definition of HRD, Democracy, Dosunmu, human rights, Human rights defender, Lagos State, National Democratic Coalition, Nigeria, politician, politics, Wahab Dosunmu, York university