Human Rights and Justice Group
Knowing, Claiming And Securing Our Right To Be Human
COMMUNITY IT LITERACY PROGRAM (CILP)
Community IT Literacy Program is a program of the Human Rights & Justice Group International and aims to provide basic internet and computer knowledge to communities and to underserved populations, especially low-income people in our target communities in Nigeria. The project is more about educating people - helping them get new jobs, meeting the need for advanced education in order to improve their standard of living. Justice Group believes that technology can be used to promote positive social change, to expand democracy and to alleviate poverty, based on human rights principles. Also, lack of access to technology impedes democracy and is a violation of the fundamental rights of the people. The skills necessary to work, prosper and participate in current society are intrinsically bound up with the ability to use information technology tools. The currency of the information age is information. If you don't have access to information, how do you participate in a democracy as a full citizen?
The implications for economic, social and cultural rights are real. In a democracy, in order to be a sovereign people, every citizen deserves an equal opportunity to participate in the important discourse of the time. In order to participate you need access to communication, without access you don't have a democracy.
In pursuit of this mission, Justice Group has carried out two training workshops for youth in Surulere and Apapa Local Government Areas of Lagos State, with 25 youths in attendance in each of the workshops. The workshops focused on expanding the use of Internet by Nigerians in order to reduce the digital divide. Traditionally, the digital divide is viewed as a literal gap in access to information technologies between rich and poor, educated and uneducated, people of color and whites. The workshop participants recommended that economic literacy and access to information technology are needed in order to leave poverty - not just to survive. Furthermore, "human rights" is more than securing the rights and fundamental liberty of the people, but bringing them into a state of dignified life, improving their standard of living thereby securing their economic and social rights.
Through this workshop, Justice Group identified that there is need for people to have a voice, to find jobs, to learn to read - these are problems that technology can help solve. Using the internet can help ameliorate resource gaps, giving access to great libraries and to all sorts of on-line resources that simply are not available in low- income communities and schools. Low-income people need not just access, but also training and coaching that will parlay tools into real, concrete opportunities. The lack of access to information technology and its requisite skills contributes both to an inability to compete in the mainstream economy and an inability to participate in civil society.
Justice Group recently entered into partnership with Kabissa: space for change in Africa, as a training partner on implementing the "Time To Get Online" Project in Nigeria. We equally participated in their last capacity building training program in August which took place in Ghana. About 20 NGO groups from different West African countries were represented in Ghana. We intend to train at least 60 people before the end of the first quarter of 2005 starting from Lagos and Edo state respectively.
For further enquiries contact the Project Coordinator, Community IT Literacy Project Send email.
LEGAL ACTION PROGRAM (LAP)
The LAP aims at developing and litigating test cases on identified issues of public interest with the aim of developing benchmarks on public law, the rule of law and administration of justice in Nigeria. Under LAP, Justice Group provides legal assistance to indigent accused persons and victims of human rights violations seeking to assert their human rights. In 2003 majority of the cases handled were non-litigation due to the absence of a full time staff attorney. But this huddle was overcome with three new staff attorneys joining the Justice Group with a lot more ready to assist on pro bono bases. The project has now retuned to active legal representation of victims of rights abuses. At present, there are three (3) on-going programmes being undertaken by the Legal Action Program.
Legal Aid Clinic & Counseling Project (LACCP)
The purpose of Legal Action Project of the Justice Group are to contribute to the development a fair and equitable justice system which addresses the legal needs of the community and to improve access to justice by the community.
Access to Justice Project (AJP)
Justice Group's Access to Justice Program aims to identify the legal and access to justice needs of socially and economically disadvantaged people in Nigeria. The program consists of two projects.
- Access to Justice and Legal Needs Project
The Group's Access to Justice Program aims to identify the legal needs, pathways and barriers for disadvantaged people in Southern Nigeria.
- Southern Nigeria Legal Needs Assessment (LNA)
Nigeria's first comprehensive legal needs study will begin in Lagos State on 10th October 2004.
- The legal problems encountered by residents of Lagos State in the last twelve months
- How these problems were resolved
- Any barriers or problems experienced in trying to resolve these problems
The Program consists of two principle stages:
Stage 1 has focused on obtaining an overall picture of the legal and access to justice needs of the community, and laid the groundwork for subsequent research.
Stage 2 involves the assessment of legal needs of several local government areas in Lagos State. In October 2004 the Group will pilot its legal needs survey in the Surulere and Apapa Local Government Area. Now, six local government areas have been selected for their socioeconomic profiles and to reflect a sample of Apapa and Surulere inner urban, outer urban, regional, rural and remote communities:
From 26th November the Group research team will carry out random interview among households in the two local government areas on behalf of the Justice Group and asking residents to participate in a confidential 20-minute survey. 600 residents in each area representing each area's age and gender population demographics will be interviewed.
The Group will be attempting to find out about the legal problems encountered by residents, how these problems were resolved, and any barriers or problems experienced in trying to resolve these problems.
The results of this detailed research will be produced in a series of reports early next year and will be widely available to all the participating local government areas.
As well as giving local residents a detailed snapshot of the legal needs of their community, the results will also inform government, non-government and community agencies helping to improve access to justice for socially and economically disadvantaged people.
The access to Justice Program represents one of the most comprehensive initiatives in Nigeria to examine the ability of disadvantaged people to obtain legal assistance, participate effectively in the legal system, obtain assistance from non-legal advocacy and support and participate effectively in law reform processes. The Program has been developed along the lines of similar initiatives previously undertaken in the United States and Great Britain.
The Human Rights & Justice Group Int'l Access to Justice and Legal Needs Project is a two-year program to identify the access to justice needs of socially and economically disadvantaged people, including people living in Southern Nigeria's rural areas.
How can you be involved?
Over the next few months/weeks, Justice Group's researchers will be randomly interviews among households in the Lagos area on behalf of the Group and asking you to participate in a confidential survey. A representative of the Group will also be in the Surulere and Apapa area from 10th -25 October conducting face-to-face interviews. The survey should take about 20 minutes to complete.
What do we want to know about?
Why should you be involved?
The survey results will give local residents a detailed snapshot of the legal needs of their community. Such knowledge can inform submissions for increased access to community based legal services and legal assistance in the State.
DEVELOPING HUMAN RIGHTS CITIES AND VILLAGES IN NIGERIA
Currently, we have started the developing human rights cities in Lagos and Edo State in partnership with People Decade for Human Rights Education (PDHRE) based in New York. The project is expected to last for two years. We are using Lagos and Edo State as a pilot scheme in order to determine the validity and impact of the project on the communities before moving on to other states. The major aim of the project is to bring human rights to the doorsteps of community's thereby moving power to the people.
Half a century ago, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights formulated ideas, which belong to all of humanity. Out of the UDHR has grown a vast body of laws, norms, expectations, and major international agreements, by which most governments of the world have, in some way, pledged their commitment to the realization of human rights for their peoples. Human rights have become a value in the sense that even the violators find it in their interest at times to proclaim their devotion to the cause of human rights.
The UDHR has taken increasingly concrete forms: a growing body of human rights instruments, i.e., a body of laws, regulations, codes whose existence and legitimacy is attested to in principle by intergovernmental instruments. The decades since the UDHR have spawned an ever larger body of international treaties, covenants, agreements, constant additions and refinements to Human Rights norms and regulations, not to mention an expanding sector of Human Rights Education: workshops, trainings, seminars, 'animations', curricula etc. in formal and informal settings. There is thus a potential culture-in-the-making, crystallized around a construct (the UDHR) that identified human beings on the basis of their right to a categorical set of basic life conditions which signatory states are obligated to protect and promote. Thus, the idea of Human Rights and much of their specific content have become 'real'. They are an intrinsic part of the new paradigm of the world. Like gravity, relativity, representative democracy they belong to the order of thoughts, which once thought, can no longer be completely 'un-thought', despite repeated attempts to repress them.
In practice, governments may or may not apply the conventions they signed. There may be active, even massive and prolonged, violations of human rights at all levels. Many States that ratified Human Rights instruments have violated their own commitments and obligations. Many states that in principle are committed to the implementation of human rights, are finding that the demands of the global economy are interfering with their resolve. Up till now, structural adjustment policies have affected countries that are described as having " weak human rights traditions". In reality, no one is immune from the deadening effects of international trading policies that consider human rights an "expensive luxury,' that 'efficiency' may require us to abandon. Based on past history, we should anticipate that there would be ever more determined attempts to reverse course even in those countries where human rights seem most ingrained.
Human Rights are here to stay. Social activists everywhere do have at their disposal an interlocking net of international agreements including the International Covenants on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and on Civil and Political Rights; the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
To date, all countries have ratified at least one, and two third have ratified most covenants and conventions. UN Member States undertake an obligation to adjust their national laws to conform with international human rights norms and standards, and to implement and enforce civil, political, economic, social and cultural human rights of all women, men, youth and children as equal citizens of the state. Ratified or not, international agreements create a space for activism. ired on paper over the past fifty years will truly be available to all, that " equality, freedom and justice, (--the promotion and implementation of human rights--) will be 'globalized', as well as the economy"
In the words of Jose Manuel Bandres it will mean "making these rights palpable ensure their universal inscription in human daily lives", societies anchored 'in the ground of human rights', rather than merely 'respecting' human rights.
Humanity's only safeguard in the globalized world will be the commitment to human rights' universality and interconnectedness, "protected by the daily integration of human rights in all areas of life, all sectors of society." For a full-fledged Human Rights culture to arise, human rights must 'inhabit' all human cultures.
This requires:
- A desire that human rights be part of their daily lives
- A full acknowledgement of the universal, indivisible and interconnected nature of all human rights
- Conscious awareness on the part of all of the existence of the international instruments
- Practical implementation of the necessary solidarities between the various groups in which communities are segmented
but also
There may be times when we disagree about the seriousness of a matter we may dismiss a complaint as odd or incomprehensible. And yet, we can and do 'understand' what their needs and requests mean, provided we are willing to stop and listen, and ask a few questions. We may still disagree on various practical grounds about the seriousness or even the nature of their problem, but up to a point a modicum of moral imagination will allow us to 'imagine' different hierarchies of value. All cultures have a concept of "needing to walk in another's shoes before dismissing their needs." A person's dignity, the right to 'belong', justice, fairness, are considered valuable objectives for society to protect.
TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES OF HUMAN RIGHTS Although the context and nature of human rights are conditioned by the social, traditional and cultural forces that inform different societies, concern for the modern form of human rights has become universal. Each violation of human rights, wherever it occurs, is considered a threat to the welfare and dignity of the mankind. Thus, unless human rights are made the focal point in good governance no progress is either possible or sustainable as no amount of economic development can be sustained without a baseline of respect for the human rights framework. Adherence to the Human Rights framework is an imperative for sustainable human social and economic development. This requires the learning about human rights paying attention to three dimensions, each of them indispensable.- Human rights built on the four pillars of
Laws
- Policies
- Resources
- Relationships
- Their implementation rests on the principles of
- Accountability
- Reciprocity
- Participation
- Continuous education
- Continuous Human Rights Education Will -(Richard Claude)
- Enhance knowledge Develop critical understanding
- Clarify values Promote solidarity
- Change attitudes Alter behavior or practices
The concept of the HUMAN RIGHTS CITIES was launched by PDHRE in 1997. It represents a systematic attempt to coordinate these three dimensions.
Major Achievements
Human Rights Education & Advocacy Project (HREAP)
HREAP in 2003 was targeted at creating general awareness on human rights issues among the public e.g. students, artisans and professional groups. This includes the conduct of in-depth investigations into human rights abuses. During the year the following projects were carried out:
- Democratic Policing
- Public Awareness & Advocacy Project
It tends to improve the citizens awareness of their human/civic rights in a democratic society and the powers of the police as well as exposing them to relevant instruments and laws that will empower them thereby establishing a cordial relationship between communities and the police community as a whole.
A two-days workshop was organised at Bronco Hotels, Ojo- Lagos, with participants drawn from youth organisations, market women associations, religious groups, CBOs, road transport workers, traditional rulers and the police community, primary and secondary school teachers, Okada riders, Road transport workers association etc. The aim of the workshop was to bring together representatives of various community and civil society groups closer to the police. It was also targeted at developing a sense of respect for fairness with the populace and develop plans about what to do if illegally arrested by law enforcement agents.
The workshop participants recommended that police must act with professional understanding of their roles; respect for the rules of criminal law, and for their functions in a democratic society in order to protect and respect human rights.
Further, a handbook "Citizens Rights & Police Powers" which was produced in collaboration with the Police was distributed to participants. The handbook spelt out international human rights standards for law enforcement agents, powers of the police and the rights of the citizens, United Nations and Police Regulations on the use of firearms. Article 3 of the United Nations Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officers (1979), states: "law enforcement officials may use force only when strictly necessary and to the extent required for the performance of their duty". A commentary on the provision has made very clear the extreme limitations on the use of force, and even more, the use of firearms, notwithstanding the argument as to proportionality of the force used. From the above citied article, it should be noted that:
"National law ordinarily restricts the use of force by law enforcement officials in accordance with a principle of proportionality. In no case should this provision be interpreted to authorize the use of force, which is disproportionate to the legitimate objective to be achieved."
The handbook generally aims at educating the people on their rights and obligation as a citizen and the duties of the Police to the people and society at large. At the end of the workshop a call was received from the participants for the organisation to organise similar program in other states of the federation. The argument being that it will help reduce police brutality and intimidation and also enlighten the people more on their fundamental rights. To date a total of 645 people have benefited from our Democratic Policing Project and about 5,ooo copies of the handbook "Citizens Rights & Police Powers" and 25,000 stickers have been disseminated.
This aims at creating awareness about Justice Group work in Nigeria and abroad and informing communities about human rights issues. This is done through production of posters and leaflets, one-act plays and collaborative efforts. Public awareness on democratic policing was carried out in Afuze, Edo State in the core heart of Niger - Delta. The state is made up of 18 local government councils, many tribal groups with 7 different major languages (Bini, Etsakon, Esan, Uokha, Emai, Ora and Iuleha). The Justice Group team that went to the various communities had to employ the services of an interpreter/translator for the 5 - day's awareness campaign.
Likewise, similar programmes were carried out in various parts of Lagos, Anambra, and. The youths, women and community leaders were the main targets. Justice Group believes that women and youths are very important in the fight to reduce the crime rate and consequently the number of those sent to prison. By educating the women and youths on their basic rights, we are educating the nation and by training them, we are infact empowering the family to stay of crime.
You and Your Rights
A one-day workshop on the above topic was held at College of Physical Education, Afuze Edo State, Nigeria on 31st July 2003. The workshop was used to highlight on the fundamental human rights provisions of Chapter IV of 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UDHR, and African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights as it relates to the people.
Community IT Literacy Project (CILP)
In 2003 through our Community IT Literacy Project we initiated Time To Get Online in Lagos, Nigeria as a follow-up to KABISSA capacity building project of which we were one of the beneficiaries. Within 2003 and now we have organised two training workshops with participants drawn from rural communities, Community based groups, youth leaders, market women and primary school teachers. A total of 35 persons have been trained so far. The theme of the workshop is Computer and Society with focus on the following:
- Introduction to computer and basic principles of Internet Technology for beginners.
- Making the Internet count "An Introduction to the Internet and Computer Application in Business" with respect to Time to Get Online Project.
Through the training the skills and knowledge acquired by the participants was aimed at further improving their living standard by making them more sustainable and applying the same in their various daily lives. Currently we have signed a partnership agreement with KABISSA implement the above project in Nigeria.
Development of Human Rights Cities and Villages
Currently, we have started the developing human rights cities in Lagos and Edo State in partnership with People Decade for Human Rights Education (PDHRE) based in New York. The project is expected to last for two years. We are using Lagos and Edo State as a pilot scheme in order to determine the validity and impact of the project on the communities before moving on to other states.
LEGAL AID SCHEME
This assistance may come by way of providing counsel to conduct legal proceedings for the assisted person or by way of counseling, preparation of legal documents or administrative intervention to secure or protect legal rights and so on. Justice Group believes that one of the hallmarks of a democratic society is the rule of law. And one of the tenets of the rule of law is equality before the law, equal access to justice.
In 2003 Justice Group provided legal assistance to victims of human rights violations. Among those that benefited most were people unlawfully arrested or illegally detained by law enforcement agents in Nigeria. A total of 88 people secured their freedom from different Nigeria Police cell/detention camps (i.e. 35 in Lagos State, Imo State 19, Edo State 12, Anambra State 22). This year 2003 marked the hallmark of illegal detention and reckless shooting by the Nigeria Police Force which is yet to locate its position in Nigerians' democracy.
In order, to reduce the rate of unlawful arrest by the police force, Justice Group established Community Legal Assistance Project (CLAP) through its Democratic Policing Project (DPP). Since inception of this project in 2003, their have been a remarkable improvement in the communities were we have liaison offices. From January 2004 till date a total of 76 persons have enjoyed the assistance of CLAP. We have further established a working relationship with the Legal Department of Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Youth Development. This is aimed at training more women as paralegal practitioners in order to strengthen the legal regime in Nigeria.
Other cases of notice include:
- ASP EMENIKE ANYANWU -VS- NIGERIA POLICE FORCE (NPF) SUIT NO. HOW/99/92
- ASC II AUGUSTINE EBERECHUKWU .A. SERVICE NO. 26946 A/C
- EDMUND.C. OKORO & 2 ORS -VS- NIGERIA POLICE FORCE SUIT NO. CA/PH/170/98
This is a case of illegal dismissal of ASP Emenike Anyanwu (No. RV696A) in 1991 and violation of Court Order by his ex-officio, namely the former Inspector General of Police (Alhaji Ibrahim Commassie), Asst. Inspector General of Police (Bello Ahmed Rtd.) Zone 6, Calabar. Honourable Justice G. Ifunanya Udo- Azogu of the Imo State High Court delivered the judgment on 6th day of December 1994. According to Justice G. Ifunanya Udo- Azogu, the police authorities should "revert the plaintiff to the status quo ante" reverse the dismissal forthwith and pay all his entitlement, outstanding salaries and allowances and the Defendants should also pay the plaintiff the cost of N800.00.
The Justice Group took over the matter in 2001, and since then has petitioned both former and present Inspector General of Police Tafa Balogun over this matter. Likewise we equally petitioned the Police Service Commission, Ministry of Police Affairs, the Senate Committee of Police Affairs, National Human Rights Commission and the Presidency but all turned deaf ears to it. In August 2002 ASP Emenike was issued a new Police Uniform without any posting or salary. It was not until May 2003 when we repetition all the concerned authorities and threatened to call for mass action that Police Service Commission and the Presidency pleaded for more time in order for them to attend to the matter after two (2) years.
Further in December 23rd 2003, the Police I.G. Mr. Tafa Balogun sent a signal to the Imo State Police Commissioner and the signal read thus: "Commissioner of Police Imo State Police Command confirm xx if ASP Emenike x Anyanwu xx has been Deployed xx?" "Replied thus: - ASP Emenike Anyanwu has not been deployed, we need your immediate Authority to deploy him". Recently the I.G.P. confirmed that he would personally deploy ASP Emenike and other seven (7) Police officers. ASP Emenike will soon resume duty after 13 years of untold hardship; he is currently being taken care of by his community because of the psychological trauma he went through.
Justice Group equally took over the matter of Assistant Inspector of Customs (ASC) Augustine Eberechukwu. A. attached to Tin-Can Island Port, Lagos. The Nigeria Custom Service based on a fraud by his superiors at the Tin-Can Island Port Lagos terminated his appointment illegally. ASC Augustine after orderly room trial was found innocent but because he was an Igboman and has no godfather his appointment was terminated. After series of petition to the various authorities concerned including the Presidency, he was finally reinstated in December 2003 after two (2) years.
Edmund (now 52 yrs old) and five others were wrongfully charged for robbery by an Oguta Police in Imo State, Nigeria and following the trial; three of them were wrongfully convicted to death penalty for an unfounded armed robbery offence. The two others were lynched to death by Prison authority on 9th September, 1985.
The incident of arrest along with others happened in 1980. And after 22yrs of incarceration, Federal Court of Appeal in Suit No. CA/PH/170/98 discharged and acquitted the three convicts and it appears that the two deceased were affected in the release but Edmund was the only person alive to inherit the release.
Edmund spent four (4) years as an awaiting trial while eighteen (18) years in death row, totaling twenty-two (22) years of his life being wasted unjustly only to be released as an innocent person from prison without commiseration of compensation and rehabilitation that could reintegrate him into the society.
The Justice Group is currently mobilizing resources to rehabilitate Mr. Edmund in order for him to live a normal and dignified life. Arrested at the age of 30 years, spent 22 years of his life in prison and now 52 years old and overwhelmed by the rapid change in the society as to what he use to see in the 1980s. An innocent citizen wrongfully convicted by the authorities for an unknown crime as a result of Police and prosecutorial misconduct and miscarriage of justice. Concerned authorities has been petitioned in order to seek for redress and compensation of a life wasted as a result of gross injustice by the impotent Nigeria judiciary.
Edmund is just one among several thousands of innocent citizens convicted for unknown crime by Nigeria courts languishing in different prisons without any care or concern.
In 2004 the Justice Group will pay more attention to the plight of prison inmates and awaiting trial victims among whom many has spent more than five years in detention without trial. We have initiated a project "operation 5,000" AMT inmates between 2004 and 2007. So far over 500 indigent persons in various police detention and cells have benefited from our Legal Assistance Project of which we are currently expanding.
CAMPAIGN AGAINST DEATH PENALTY
In Nigeria, Prison inmates on death row are living in pathetic conditions. Investigation by Human Rights & Justice Group on Nigeria Prisons Service in 2003 showed that of the persons on death row have been waiting to die for over 10 years! Below is a breakdown of the numbers of persons on death row in Nigeria:
| STATE | MALE | FEMALE | ALL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adamawa | 1 | 1 | |
| Akwa-Ibom | 28 | 28 | |
| Bauchi | 3 | 3 | |
| Benue | 1 | 1 | |
| Borno | 3 | 3 | |
| Cross River | 8 | 8 | |
| Delta | 37 | 37 | |
| Edo | 29 | 2 | 31 |
| Enugu | 52 | 1 | 53 |
| Gombe | 3 | 3 | |
| Jigawa | 4 | 4 | |
| Kaduna | 50 | 50 | |
| Kano | 5 | 5 | |
| Kastina | 1 | 1 | |
| Kebbi | 6 | 1 | 7 |
| Kogi | 3 | 3 | |
| Kwara | 1 | 1 | |
| Lagos | 16 | 16 | |
| Ogun | 106 | 1 | 107 |
| Plateau | 40 | 1 | 41 |
| Rivers | 60 | 4 | 64 |
| Taraba | 10 | 10 | |
| Yobe | 6 | 6 | |
| Zamfara | 4 | 4 | |
TOTAL | 476 | 11 | 487 |
From the above statistics, a total of 487 people are awaiting execution, of which 11 are women. After having undergone an often-traumatic trial process, they are compelled to approach every day as if it is their last. These are individuals over whose heads death literally hangs, like a sword of Damocles.
Caught as they are between life and death, the condemned criminals on death row are a fitting metaphor for a half-dead justice system that appears to be doing more to deny justice than fairly dispensing it. Nigeria has a pluralistic penal system that has three penal legislations co-existing, namely the penal code, the criminal code and the sharia penal system. All three prescribe the death penalty for a range of criminal offences. The justice system is notorious for its lengthy delays at almost all stages of the process.
Pre-trial waiting time for detainees involved in capital cases is, on average, as five years; over 25,000 people are awaiting trial. Clearly, a review of the post-trial procedure in capital cases must be carried out as a vital part of the comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria's judicial system. A system that cannot execute those it finds deserving of capital punishment undermines its own fairness and efficacy.
The Human Rights & Justice Group has joined the campaign for the abolition of death penalty in Nigeria, and under its research project on Access to Justice & Legal Needs Project has mapped collaborative strategies that would incorporate both local and international judicial organs and donor agencies aimed at reducing the number of innocent victims on awaiting trial list in Nigeria prisons from 2004 - 2007.
Community Health Action Project (CHAP)
The Justice Group in February 2003 launched AIDS awareness prevention program to help curtail the spread of the virus, discrimination and stigmatization of victims in the country. The awareness campaign against HIV/AIDS was held at Kirikiri Town, Lagos in collaboration with Society for Youth Development and Enlightenment. Youthful members of both organisations and host community were enlisted including traders, students and workers as active campaigners against the deadly scourge.
The campaign theme was "AIDS is real & AIDS victims have a Right". Most Nigerians are categorizing hotels and joints as most vulnerable to HIV/AIDS epidemic, but only a few have realized that the entire country is vulnerable. "Vulnerable are all of us, if we don't fight it aggressively through putting up proper discipline, decorum and abstain from illicit sex". There is need for more hands in fighting the spread of the disease which is greatly ravaging the whole country. Meanwhile, discrimination and stigmatization of AIDS victims in Nigeria is on the increase, as many believe that anybody living with the virus is a disgrace. Finally, Justice Group called on government and communities to ensure more commitment to help address the problem of discrimination and stigmatization of victims.
The Justice Group is planning a capacity building training program for civil society groups and community based groups in Nigeria which will take place in December 2004. This is aimed at exposing them to trainings and strategies that will enhance their programme development and responsiveness to the HIV/AIDS scourge in Nigeria.
Other Activities
- Participated in Kabissa "Time To Get Online Training of Trainers Capacity Building Workshop" held in Lagos, Nigeria.
- Attended the Certificate Program on Information Documentation and Management for Human Rights NGOs organised by Legal Research, Resource and Documentation Center (LRRDC), Lagos, Nigeria.
- Justice Group Participated at the Gender Development Institute (GDI) in a Benin City, Edo State organised by Girl Power Initiative and sponsored by Ford Foundation.
- Participated in Kabissa Certified "Time To Get Online Training of Trainers Capacity Building Workshop" held in GIMPA, Accra - Ghana with the support of Kabissa - U.S.A. Currently, we have signed a partnership agreement with Kabissa to implement the project in Nigeria.
- Participated in the Project/Human Resource Development Management Training Workshop organised by Health Matters Incorporated Lagos, Nigeria in Collaboration with Ford Foundation.
Research Study
The Justice Group have completed a research study titled "Street Children: the abused, neglected, the law and solution". The research was completed in February 2004 including its complete documentation and is now awaiting publication.