Security and Access to Justice
REPORT OF THE CAPACITY ASSESSMENT MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY POLICING COMMITTEE OF KATSINA-ALA LGA, BENUE STATE
17th April, 2024
Lawyers Alert commenced the implementation of the “Empowering Community Policing Committees towards a right based approach to security sector governance” project in two LGAs (Guma and Kastina-Ala) of Benue State in 2023. This project is aimed at facilitating an effective working relationship between community members, security entities, and other key stakeholders through the use of partnerships and problem-solving techniques to proactively address the immediate conditions that produce conflict and social disorder. The CPC have been established in both locations with a membership of 20 persons across different stakeholders in the community..
REPORT OF THE BASELINE SURVEY MEETING OF THE OF THE COMMUNITY POLICING COMMITTEE OF GUMA LGA, BENUE STATE
16th April, 2024
Flowing from the implementation of the Empowering Community Policing Committee towards a right-based approach to security sector governance and accountability in Nigeria, with Benue state as a pilot state of implementation, with Guma LGA as one of the project location due to it’s vulnerability and volatility to violent conflicts and crisis, giving rise to human rights violations and other crimes.
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REPORT ON EQUAL ACCESS INTERNATIONAL COURTESY VISIT TO THE TRANSITION CHAIRMAN OF GWER-WEST LGA AND UNVEILING OF A NEW FIELD COORDINATOR
15th January, 2024
As part of the key objective of the Securing Nigeria Communities project, Equal Access
International, led by the Country Director Dr. Maji Peterx, in company with Lawyers Alert the local resource organization (LRO) paid a courtesy visit to the newly appointed transition Charman of Gwer-west LGA Hon. HENRY AGBA, to discuss about the early warning and early response mechanism. (EWER system) initiated in the LGA that ensures women and youths inclusion in the security architecture of the community.
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ONE-DAY PUBLIC PRESENTATION REPORT ON THE LOCAL ACTION PLAN DOCUMENT FOR THREE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS (AGATU, GUMA, AND GWER-WEST) OF BENUE STATE, FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION (UNSCR) 1325.
27th November, 2023
As part of the key objective of the Securing Nigeria Communities project, Equal Access
International, mapped and identified Benue State as one of the most hit states in Nigeria in terms of conflicts, ranging from communal to farmer/herder clashes.
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LAWYERS ALERT PARTNERS WITH THE MoJ AND SECURES THE CONVICTION OF A RAPIST IN MAKURDI AND OTHER LEGAL REPRESENTATION STORIES
30th October, 2023
Lawyers Alert in the last three years, following the rape and abandonment of a 13 year old in an uncompleted building deployed its lawyers to work with the police and the ministry of justice in ensuring justice was done.
REPORT ON THE GENERAL STAKEHOLDERS MEETING AND COMMISSIONING OF THE COMMUNITY POLICING COMMITTEE IN GUMA LOCAL GOVERNMENT
24th August, 2023
The Community Policing initiative, spearheaded by Lawyers Alert Nigeria aims to address security challenges in Benue State, Nigeria through a rights-based approach to security sector governance and accountability. Regarding the security issues, particularly in the context of pastoralist-farmer conflicts and inter-ethnic disputes especially fuelled by factors like water shortages and cattle rustling.
REPORT ON THE GENERAL STAKEHOLDERS MEETING AND COMMISSIONING OF THE COMMUNITY POLICING COMMITTEE IN KATSINA-ALA LOCAL GOVERNMENT
16th August, 2023
The Community Policing initiative, spearheaded by Lawyers Alert Nigeria aims to address security challenges in Benue State, Nigeria through a rights-based approach to security sector governance and accountability. Regarding the security issues, particularly in the context of pastoralist-farmer conflicts and inter-ethnic disputes especially fuelled by factors like water shortages and cattle rustling.
LAWYERS ALERT RELEASES SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS REPORT OF HERDERS
29th April, 2023
Farmers and Fisher Clashes in parts of Nigeria and Cameroon as we roll out our community-policing project in Nigeria and Cameron
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REPORT OF ONE DAY LAWYERS BRAINSTORMING MEETING ON LITIGATING RIGHTS OF DOMESTIC AND INFORMAL WORKERS IN NIGERIA
20th April, 2023
A one-day brainstorming meeting was organized by Lawyers Alert to discuss the legal rights of informal and domestic workers in Nigeria. During the session, participants deliberated on a range of topics including the current legal framework governing informal and domestic work, potential challenges faced by these workers, gaps in existing legislation, and possible solutions to address these issues.
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ADVOCACY VISIT TO HISBAH TO DECRIMINALIZE PETTY OFFENCE
28th March, 2023
Lawyers Alert with the support of the Open Society Initiative of West Africa (OSIWA) is implementing a project that seeks to deepen efforts at decriminalization of Petty offences in Nigeria, facilitate synergy in advocacy efforts to decriminalize Petty offences, and to provide legal representation to persons accused of Petty Offenses.
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REPORT OF THE MEETING WITH PROSPECTIVE APPLICANTS TOWARDS LITIGATING DOMESTIC INFORMAL WORKERS' RIGHTS IN NIGERIA
18th January, 2023
Lawyers Alert and the labour union held a meeting supported by the Solidarity centre towards litigating the rights of informal/domestic workers in Nigeria. Participants from Lawyers Alert introduced the organisation while emphasising the organisation's mission, vision, programs and thematic areas. Representatives of the Unions also gave an overview of their Unions and their roles.
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ACTIVATION/ IMPLEMENTATION OF THE VIOLENCE AGAINST PERSONS PROHIBITION LAW (VAPPL) AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE LAW (ACJL) IN BAUCHI, BENUE, ENUGU, KADUNA, OSUN, AND THE FCT
23rd September, 2022
Lawyers Alert is implementing a project with SCALE that seeks to advocate for the activation/ implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law (VAPPL) and the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) in Bauchi, Benue, Enugu, Kaduna, Osun, and the FCT towards speedy justice service delivery and resolution of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases.
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This is aimed at enhancing the advocacy skills of cluster members and stakeholders towards engaging government and other stakeholders for the implementation of VAPPL and ACJL.
The clusters are being taking through the Strategy and Outcome Harvester and how the tool can be used to record progress and successes of the cluster.
JOINT SHADOW REPORT TO THE UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE FOR THE PERIODIC REVIEW OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA NOVEMBER- DECEMBER 2021
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INTRODUCTION
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This report is submitted to the UN Committee against Torture as a "shadow" report of the period under review of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to highlight key areas in which the Nigerian government can improve its commitments under the Convention.
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This report is a joint submission by the following Nigerian CSO’s: Sterling Center for Law & Development, Avocats Sans Frontieres France (Lawyers without borders), Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN) and Idris Bawo & Co-led by Lawyers Alert.
SNAP ASSESSMENT OF THE PERFORMANCE OF THE JUDICIAL PANEL OF INQUIRY IN NIGERIA POST #ENDSARS PROTEST AND TRAINING FACILITATED BY ICJ, LA AND NHRC.
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INTRODUCTION
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This report assesses the outcome of the capacity-building exercise facilitated by Lawyers Alert and the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), in partnership with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), for Judges and Judicial Panel Members sitting in 30 states in December 2020 in terms of progress and success rate of the panels. This evaluation is based on desk review, field visits, and interviews with project beneficiaries and partners.
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LAWYERS ALERT: BUILDING A PETTY OFFENCES DECRIMINALISATION MOVEMENT IN NIGERIA
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Background
By July 2021, a total of 68, 556 persons in Nigeria are in correctional service centers with 70% of these persons awaiting trial. A large percentage of those awaiting trial is on account of Petty Offences. These persons are often the poor and vulnerable in the society owing to the very nature of Petty Offences and economic reasons
2020 REGIONAL DECRIMINALISATION CONFERENCEDay 3: Proposed sub-themes by Lawyers Alert Nigeria and Pan African Lawyers Union
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1st Session: Impact on access to justice for the poor and marginalized.
Without a doubt, COVID-19 presented a huge public health concern and the management of
the pandemic by states impacted on access to justice in several ways. Part of states responses
saw courts closing or rationed, with the attendant consequences on justice losing the cardinal
principles of timely and fair hearings owing to case backlogs and inordinate delays in an
already challenging the justice system.
END SARS: CALL FOR COMPLAINTS FROM WOMEN AND WOMEN GROUPS
November 2020
Lawyers Alert provides free legal assistance to women and girls in Nigeria, amongst other interventions. It is in this regard that we are providing free legal assistance to women and girls who have suffered any human rights violation with regard to the #ENDSARS protest.
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REPORT OF MEETING LINKING WOMEN GROUPS WITH THE GENDER UNIT OF THE NIGERIA POLICE FORCE AND THE POLICE DUTY SOLICITORS SCHEME OF LEGAL AID COUNCIL ON GBV & SRHR IN NIGERIA
Location: Eagle Valley Royal Hotel, Plateau, Jos
12th November 2020
Overview/Meeting Objectives
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The meeting was convened to link Women Groups with the Gender unit (GU) of the Nigeria Police Force and the Police Duty Solicitors Scheme (PDSS) of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria. The meeting had the following objectives;
1. To introduce the GU and PDSS to Women Groups
2. For women groups to understand the roles of the GU and PDSS in addressing issues of SRHR and GBV.
3. To create a link between women groups, GU and PDSS.
4. Modus for working together and service delivery.
REPORT OF MEETING LINKING WOMEN GROUPS WITH THE GENDER UNIT OF THE NIGERIA POLICE FORCE AND THE POLICE DUTY SOLICITORS SCHEME OF LEGAL AID COUNCIL ON GBV & SRHR IN NIGERIA
Location: Force Gender (FCIID), Area 10, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria
5th November 2020
Overview/Meeting Objectives
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The meeting had the following objectives;
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To Introduce the GU&PDSS to women groups.
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For women groups to understand the roles of the GU&PDSS in addressing issues of SRHR and GBV.
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3.To create a link between women groups, GU&PDSS.
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4.Modules for working together and service delivery.
REPORT ON MEETING WITH THE GU & PDSS ON GBV IN NIGERIALocation: Dogon Koli Hotel, Western Bye-Pass, Bosso, Minna, Niger State.
17th September 2020
Introduction
The meeting is convened to understand the challenges being faced by the Gender Unit (GU) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Police Duty Solicitors Scheme (PDSS) of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria and to develop a road map for addressing these challenges.
​A two-man team of Lawyers Alert left Abuja for Minna, Niger state on the 16th September 2020 for a meeting scheduled for the following day at Dogon Koli Hotel.
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REPORT OF MEETING ON PARTNERING WITH THE GU & PDSS ON GBV & SRHR IN NIGERIA Location: Force Gender (FCIID), Area 10, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.
17th September 2020
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Overview/Meeting Objectives
The meeting had the following objectives;
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To understand the challenges of the GU&PDSS (Resources & Technically).
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Develop a road map for addressing these challenges.
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To enhance participant skills in understanding their roles and best ways to address issues of SRHR and GBV in a Human Rights and Satisfactory manner.
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Modus for monitoring, documentation, working together.
REPORT OF MEETING ON PARTNERING WITH THE GU & PDSS ON GBV & SRHR IN NIGERIA Location: Miango Rest Home, Plateau, Jos
17th September 2020
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Overview/Meeting Objectives
The meeting had the following objectives;
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To understand the challenges of the GU&PDSS (Resources & Technically).
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Develop a road map for addressing these challenges.
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To enhance participant skills in understanding their roles and best ways to address issues of SRHR and GBV in a Human Rights and Satisfactory manner.
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Modus for monitoring, documentation, working together.
REPORT OF A ONE-DAY MEETING ON THE TRAINING ON THE USE OF LAWYERS ALERT DOCUMENTATION TOOL “LADOCKT
22nd January 2020
Overview/Meeting Objectives:
The meeting had the following objectives;
1) To understand the scope of petty offenses and SRHR violations
2) To enhance participants skills in reporting and documenting petty offenses and SRHR
violations.
3) Modus for documentation.
A ONE DAY MEETING ON PETTY OFFENCES IN NIGERIA
12th April 2019
Petty acts that have been criminalized wears the face of poverty and discrimination. In effect, it is a human rights issue. When people go to jail for loitering, hawking, and similar acts, it's definitely a poverty issue. Towards the decriminalization of petty offences, Lawyers Alert convened a meeting recently in Abuja where activists began a conversation towards the decriminalization. Below is the Video.
Lawyers Alert Continues Its Violence Against Women And Girls Engagement
1st June 2018
In continuation of our project which seeks to reduce and eliminate violence against women and girls, Lawyers alert has added 5 states to its already existing 8, making it a total of 13 states.
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In the last 6 weeks, Lawyers Alert has created partnerships with key groups in these 5 states and we are currently liaising with several community women groups who report violations and access free legal services
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LAWYERS ALERT SECURES THE RELEASE OF JOHN IBYA THROUGH ITS PRO BONO SERVICES
9th April 2018
As part of our free legal services to vulnerable persons, Lawyers Alert is happy to announce that we have secured the release of John Ibya from prison custody. Sometime in July 2018, Mr ibya was arrested by the police in Aliade and was immediately taken to the police station for the alleged offense of conspiracy, attempted robbery, and housebreaking. He was arraigned at the Chief Magistrate court Aliade for the said offenses.