THE IMPACT OF MASS MEDIA ON THE MANAGEMENT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY    

Human rights are generally moral rights claimed by everyone and held against everyone, especially against those who run social institutions (Orend, 2002). With the advent of the United Nations (UN) and the subsequent adoption of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948, the concept of human rights has turned out to be one of the most contemporary issues across the globe. The UN Charter, which was adopted in 1945, was the first international document to recognize the protection and promotion of human rights as an obligation to be carried out by individual, as well as collective states (Langley, 1999). The main reason behind the adoption of the charter was, according to Smith (2007) to forestall the reoccurrence of the horrible events caused by two devastating world wars which were caused by massive violations of human rights and unbridled breach of territorial integrity.

In addition to the effort of the UN, the state has basically been seen as the main actor in the promotion and protection of human rights2. Unfortunately, states, according to Hakemulder et al (1998), are often the very abuser of the rights of the citizens they are required to protect. However, it should be noted that though the state bears the primary responsibility in issues of human rights, other organs of the society, such as corporations (Addo, 1999) are included in the protection of human rights.

Although there are international human rights instruments which the UN has produced to serve as common standard of achievement for all people‟4, countless human rights violations occur across the globe. These violations could be committed by non-state actors through direct involvement or indirectly when they consent to such violations. Non-state actors such as „individuals, groups, informal or organised, ad hoc or continuous, may pose as „violators, protectors or intermediaries‟. Consequently, it is imperative that they be examined so that they could be held accountable for these violations. It is also important to ascertain the reasons for state inability to safeguard human rights (Arat, 2006). The concept of human rights is now widely recognised in several parts of the world, and human rights violations are reported by journalists (Nickel, 2007). However, the 1990s witnessed an increase in the use of the term (Ramos et al, 2000). The importance of the attention given to human rights by the media is noteworthy because their coverage highlights the level of abuses occurring throughout the world (Cole, 2000). Human rights violation is an issue which should be given due attention. This is in line with Orend who argues that the violation of human rights is a vicious and ugly phenomenon indeed and it is something we have overriding reasons to resist and remedy‟ (2002).

Despite more than a decade of democratic governance and endorsement of universal declaration of human rights charter, Nigerians still face a lot of human rights abuses. This is because contrary to democratic ethos, the state is still largely authoritarian in leadership and security operations (Akhaine and Chizea, 2011). Cases of human rights violations which McCulley (2013) described as becoming a culture of impunity in the country includes extra-judicial killings, illegal detention, destruction of property by security forces etc. Even studies by researchers (Adetoro, 2012a; Oladunjoye and Omemu, 2013; Udama, 2013; Ojo et al., 2014) acknowledged the role of extra-judicial killings of Mohammed Yusuf and other Boko Haram leaders in escalating the sectarian violence that nearly consumed the whole of North Eastern Nigeria. Kidnapping for ransom and rituals are also alarming (Agabe, 2013; Atoyebi, 2014). Other forms of human rights abuses in Nigeria include motorists‟ harassment and extortion by security personnel, political assassinations, undemocratic imposition of candidates in leadership and intimidation of political opponents (Akhaine and Chizea, 2011); rape, child abuse, education denial and domestic violence (Adesupo, 2013; Ayegboyin, 2013; Ayoola, 2013; Hamzat, 2013; Salahudeen, 2013). Therefore, this study focuses on the impact of mass media on the management of the human rights abuses in Nigeria.

1.2     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The rate of human right abuses in the society is gradually increasing and the mass media is not playing a role in addressing the issue. Most often the mass media does not publicize cases of human right abuses and this make it unknown to the socirty that the issue is actually on the increase.

Journalists often fail to adopt a comprehensive approach in reporting human rights abuses. Even in the absence of such abuses, the media often fail to formulate their broadcast policy to incorporate human rights programmes. The prioritization of profit-making over societal wellbeing dominates media agenda. For instance, Lustgarten and Debix (2005) assert that the media‟s preference for „flashy audience–grabbing and ratings-soaring image or story‟ makes them to be nonchalant in matters which are of interest to the public, owing to their inability to pursue events in detail.

Many studies conducted on media and human rights mostly dwell on analyzing the frequency of human rights terms, especially in the print media such as newspapers and magazines. None or few of them centre on an in-depth analysis of television broadcast programmes to find out the possibility of such programmes having an implicit or in-depth treatment of human rights issues. These problems make it obvious that there is a need to carry out a study on the impact of mass media on the management of the human rights abuses in Nigeria.

1.3     OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY     

The general objective of this study is to examine the impact of mass media on the management of the human rights abuses in Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study are:

1.     To find out the rate of the human rights abuses in Nigeria.

2.     To ascertain the influence of mass media on the rate of the human rights abuses in Nigeria.

3.     To examine if journalists carry out their duty in reporting cases of human right abuses.

4.     To know if the mass media controls the rate of the human right abuses in Nigeria.

5.     To investigate the relationship between mass media and the management of the human rights abuses in Nigeria.

1.4     RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The relevant research questions related to this topic are:

1.     What is the rate of the human rights abuses in Nigeria?

2.     What is the influence of mass media on the rate of the human rights abuses in Nigeria?

3.     Do journalists carry out their duty in reporting cases of human right abuses?

4.     Does the mass media controls the rate of the human right abuses in Nigeria?

5.     What is the relationship between mass media and the management of the human rights abuses in Nigeria?

1.5     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study makes known the importance of the role of mass media on the management of the human right abuses in Nigeria.  It will also enhance the knowledge of various players in the mass media on their role in effective and effectual reportage of human right abuses in Nigeria.

This study will enhance the existing body of literature by contemplating the areas of the literature that have not yet been examined or considered and incorporating these factors into the current study. The study will thus form the basis for further studies in the field.

1.6     SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study is restricted to the impact of mass media on the management of the human rights abuses in Nigeria. Awka south local government of Anambra state is used as a case study.