Human Rights Violations in Nigeria

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses human rights violations in Nigerias, noting such violations as the execution of activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and the active participation of the Dutch Shell Oil Company in influencing the Nigerian government to act illegally and in violation of human rights. The paper specifically describes how the dynamics between Shell, Nigerian governmental officials, the environment, and the people work to keep Nigeria on Amnesty International's list of countries that engage in consistent and persistent practices of human rights violations. The paper also discusses the work of NGO's to halt these violations.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
The Story of Ken Saro-Wiwa
Shell Oil in Nigeria
Human Rights Violations in Nigeria
Non-Governmental Organizations
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"The change of government, for many Nigerians, represented a change only in the main players of the dynamics in Nigeria. Today, Nigeria remains on Amnesty International's list as a human rights violator for false imprisonment, imprisonment without due judicial process, lack of legal representation, corrupt courts, prison overcrowding to the excessive numbers of prisoners, and reports that some prisoners spend as long as ten years incarcerated before going to trial. The CIA World Fact Book reports that the last two elections in Nigeria, 2003 and, again, in 2007, were "marred" by voting irregularities and violence."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Abrams, Elliott. "The Media and Human Rights." World and I Dec. 2001: 290. Questia. 18 May 2008 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5002429173>.
• Adio, Waziri. "Nigeria." The Nation 14 Apr. 2003: 20. Questia. 18 May 2008 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5002526341>.
• Agbu, Osita. Ethnic Militias and the Threat to Democracy in Post-Transition Nigeria. Uppsala: Nordic African Institute, 2004. Questia. 18 May 2008 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=103974899>.
• Ambrose, Brendalyn P. Democratization and the Protection of Human Rights in Africa: Problems and Prospects. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 1995. Questia. 18 May 2008 <http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=26239587>.
• Amnesty International USA, found online at: http://www.amnestyusa.org/, 2008, retrieved 17 May 2008.

More papers on Human Rights Violations in Nigeria:

• Case Study # 111342 : "Human Rights in Nigeria"
• Term Paper # 128001 : "Global Human Trafficking"
• Essay # 7113 : "A Deconstruction of Shell's Representation of the Ogoni Issue"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: