Civil Rights Advocacy Organisation Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action, PRAWA, has applauded the landmark opinion ruling of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights which declared that vagrancy laws are inconsistent and inconsonant with the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, Children’s Rights Charter and Women Rights Protocol.
As such the Organization is calling on the Federal government to take immediate action by repealing laws that are in breach of Articles 2,3,5 and 6 of the African Charter.
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A Statement signed by the Executive Director of the Organisation, Uju Agomoh, Says Nigeria is one of the countries that still retain some aspects of colonial laws that criminalize poverty, in their lawbooks.
Agomoh also noted that disproportionate laws are targeted at the uneducated and disadvantaged poor people (hawkers, street beggars, sex workers etc.) whose means of livelihoods are criminalized without any alternatives. She added that by declassifying and decriminalizing petty offences, government will be helping to make society safe by keeping petty offenders away from custody where they may be contaminated by criminals.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
