80 International Journal of Law, Policy and Social Review www.lawjournals.net Online ISSN: 2664-6838, Print ISSN: 2664-682X Received: 30-07-2023, Accepted: 15-08-2023, Published: 31-08-2023 Volume 5, Issue 3, 2023, Page No. 80-84 The strongest threat to the respect and observance of human rights are acts of impunity Aniema Ralph-Naale 1 , Jessica A A Andrew-Jaja 2 1 Faculty of Law, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria 2 Public of Law, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria Abstract Impunity manifests in blatant acts of corruption, bad governance and human rights abuses by public officials and those in power. This attitude pervades the executive, legislature, and judiciary as well as federal, state and local governments of states. This paper described violations of human rights as a result of acts of impunity, as a global issue, though it resonates in some countries more than others. Impunity relates to the impossibility of bringing the perpetrators of human rights violations to account. This selective application of justice has rubbed off negatively on ordinary citizens who also use power and wealth to violate human rights and evade justice. It has fostered corruption, bribery, lack of diligence, absence of due process and citizen’s disregard for public officials, public procedures and public property in Nigeria. It remains that no State where acts of impunity violate human rights constantly and the people remain helpless can develop. This paper identified the issue of violations in Nigeria and concludes that the inability of a State to respect, protect and fulfill the obligations over human rights of its people, not only means that such a State is a failed state but also that the people need political change. Keywords: Impunity, human rights, threats, bad governance, constitution Introduction The fight against impunity is inextricably linked to the exercise and enjoyment of human rights. Impunity fosters and perpetuates acts of corruption and bad governance. Effective mechanisms to check acts of impunity remain indispensable to achieve effective access to independent and impartial justice and to guarantee human rights. [1] Thus, international law recognizes the need to protect the human rights of people. However, has the inclusion of human rights concepts and principles into the language of international relations caused a change in States over prevailing acts of impunity? [2] Have State Constitutions in several parts of the world prevented brazen acts of impunity from affecting human rights negatively? Impunity of government has been a major issue both at national, regional and international levels, despite legal provisions protecting human rights. This paper examines the difficulties acts of impunity cause on human rights and evaluates the extent to which the international community statutorily protects human rights and rejects impunity. The rule of law allows for the actualization of rights and privileges of components of the State and civil society. If a State fails to meet the obligations of its social contract, underdevelopment and disempowerment of the citizens will be the outcome, and underdevelopment breeds lawlessness, which manifests in conflict, corruption, anarchy, impunity and several other vices among the citizens. [3] According to the preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) 1948, it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law. [4] Therefore, continuous acts of widespread impunity are a product of a failed state where the rule of law is not enthroned, where individuals pursue their selfish interest as against the collective interest of the people and the State. Primarily, the State has the responsibility to maintain social order and protect and preserve individual’s rights, liberty and property. Human rights protection In setting out recognized human rights, the UDHR 1948 provides in article 1 that ‘All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.’ [5] By this provision, it is established that even before legal protections were made over human rights, man possessed these rights and is expected to protect them by reason and conscience. Human rights are therefore universal. They are foreign to no culture and native to all nations. [6] Since they are accepted by all States and peoples, they apply equally and indiscriminately to every person and are the same for everyone everywhere. [7] . Today, the universality of human rights is borne out of the fact that majority of nations, covering the full spectrum of cultural, religious and political traditions, have adopted and ratified the main international human rights instruments. [8] The UDHR 1948 was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 1948 as a result of the experience of the Second World War. [9] With the establishment in 1945 of the United Nations, the UDHR 1948 provides the first authoritative elaboration of the term ‘human rights’, as used in the UN Charter. [10] But despite the presence of several human rights documents, States continue to experience human rights violations. Violations of human rights including torture, suppression of freedoms, arrest and detention without trials, abuse of rule of law and due process, excessive lawlessness, extra-judicial executions, arbitrary expulsion from school and dismissal from work without fair hearing, joblessness without social security, unpaid salaries; pensions and gratuities, violations