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Christian Solidarity Worldwide is a human rights organisation specialising in religious freedom and promoting religious liberty for all people.  Google ‘csw’ for their website giving up to date information on Nigeria and other parts of the world where governments are in serious breach of their responsibility to protect their people.

The Nigerian constitution states that one of the country’s foreign policy objectives is to respect international law and treaty obligations, several of which have binding force.  In 2011 Nigeria goes to the polls to elect a new administration.  CSW is requesting that in dialogue with the Nigerian government, the EU and other key members of the international community emphasise the importance of:

- ensuring the primacy of the Federal Constitution by robustly challenging the constitutionality of the institution of full Shari’a law in the twelve northern states in defiance of the federal constitution, which prohibits the creation of a state religion;

- in view of ongoing discussions on the nature of the Federal Constitution, emphasising the importance of maintaining a secular constitution in the interests of sustaining national cohesion in a multi-faith nation, where the favouring of a particular religion in the political arena has the potential to be explosive – as evidenced by the "Full Shari’a issue;

- continually reiterating to northern and central state governments their constitutional obligation to end all discriminatory practices and policies and to disburse government funding in an equitable manner, stressing that such action should be taken as a matter of urgency for the good of both the state and the nation;

- monitoring and strengthening the implementation of existing laws and practices to ensure equality and non-discrimination towards non-Muslim children in northern and central states. Nigeria must also ensure that individual states ensure an adequate living standard for children by the provision without bias of a potable water, environmental improvements and social amenities;

- withholding federal finance from state governments that persist in utilising these funds to support discriminatory, unconstitutional systems that promote the advancement of one community while neglecting others;

- putting pressure on states to end the policy of demolishing and/or seizing churches, church-owned land and/or other religious establishments without compensation, and of arbitrarily disallowing or indefinitely delaying the granting of certificates of ownership, and permission to construct, reconstruct or improve religious premises;

- pressurising the northern states to ensure that the rights of non-Muslims are respected, that non-Muslims are not subjected to Shari’a requirements, and that non-Muslim establishments, families or individuals receive sufficient and timely compensation for losses or damages sustained during episodes of violence;

- fully addressing the legality of the existence and activities of Hisbah forces;

- ensuring that state governments are held accountable for any failure to adequately protect the persons and properties of citizens by taking timely action to end outbreaks of violence, and placing federal forces in a state of readiness to end any violent outbreak if state authorities are slack in taking action;

- in the event of inadequate intervention by state governments, honouring Nigeria’s binding obligations under the CRC to ensure the swift return of abducted children to their families and the punishment of perpetrators;

- upholding the freedom of all Nigerians to practice their religion without let or hindrance as per Nigeria’s constitutional and international obligations, and to change their religious affiliations if they so desire.

- bringing both organisers and perpetrators of violence before courts in a timely manner so that justice is seen to be done and impunity is eroded.

Finally, in the run-up to elections, the EU must continually emphasises its interest in and the importance of a free and fair democratic process, and ensure that EU observers are present to monitor the elections, taking a strong stand against proven incidences of fraud.

Stefanos is grateful to CSW for all its work and advocacy on behalf of Nigerian people now facing the most appalling threats and suffering.