African Commission tasked on killing of Nigerians, other black Africans - A Nigerian Non-Governmental Organization, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has urged the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to ask Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC) to immediately instruct all its agents to stop the continuing racist killing and victimization of Nigerians and other black Africans in Libya. In a statement issued here, SERAP also asked the Commission to order the NTC “to guarantee and ensure the enjoyment of the rights to life and to equality and non-discrimination and their socio-economic rights to an adequate standard of living, pending this Commission’s decision.”

The organization said the request for provisional measures was contained in a letter, dated 7 September, which it sent to the commission.

SERAP asked the African Commission to “urgently invoke Article 111 (Rule of Procedure) to prevent further risk of continuing irreversible denial of the victims’ rights, which in turn will render nugatory the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the potential decision by the Commission in this case”

It expressed serious concern that the transitional authorities are failing to live up to their international obligations.

“Yet, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights requires all state parties including Libya to ensure to all persons their fundamental rights without distinction of any kind, including race, language, religion, national origin, or other status,' the organization added.

According to the SERAP, “The NTC has a positive obligation to prevent and punish human rights abuse by its agents or private actors. But the NTC is permitting or failing to take appropriate measures or to exercise due diligence to prevent, punish, investigate or redress the harm caused by the unlawful killing of Nigerians and other black Africans.”

It said the continuing arbitrary and unlawful killing, victimization and persecution of innocent Nigerians and other black Africans in Libya by the agents of the NTC constitute a fundamental breach of Libya’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, in particular the right to life, and equality and –non-discrimination.

The organization also asked the Commission to order the Libyan authorities to give assurances for the safety and security of all Nigerians and other black Africans currently facing victimization and persecution by the agents of the NTC in Libya, and also assured that they will fully implement Libya’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

SERAP said the NTC must also be compelled to affirm the government’s repudiation of racism and discrimination, and to develop and finance a national strategy on combating racism and discrimination that sets out concrete measures and a timetable for implementation.

Pana 08/09/2011