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Background

Strategic litigation is potentially a powerful engine of social change. Lawyers Alert strategic impact litigation movement seeks to bring cases before the court with the explicit aim of positively affecting persons beyond the individual complainants. It helps in expanding the frontiers of Law. Lawyers Alert has a mandate to advance equal access to justice and promote and protect the rights of vulnerable groups, especially women through engagement with the instrument of law.

About Lawyers Alert:

Lawyers Alert is a Justice Sector Civil Society Organization that is Non-Profit, Non-Partisan, and Non-religious. It is made up substantially of Lawyers and other professionals committed to the entrenchment of democracy, rule of law, and socio-economic development of citizens with particular emphasis on women. Lawyers Alert with its almost two decades of existence has actively serviced its target beneficiaries. They include Women, Female Sex Workers, Sexual Minorities, People Living with HIV, People who use and Inject Drugs, and People Living with Disabilities (PWDs), amongst others.

Background

Lawyers Alert is contributing to positively changing the dynamics of SRHR in Nigeria by the creation of effective SRHR movements, operational networks and collaborations at the grassroots, judicial activism, legal literacy (rights awareness creation) and provision of scientific data on violations. These steps are contributing in no small measure to the changing narrative and positive push for the enjoyment of Reproductive Health Rights in Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION

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.

This report is a joint submission by the following Nigerian CSO’s: Sterling Center for Law & Development, Avocats Sans Frontiers France (Lawyers without borders), Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN) and Idris Bawo & Co-led by Lawyers Alert.

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

PREFACE

In 2014, the National HIV and AIDS Anti-Discrimination Act (HA D Act) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was signed into law. The Act makes provision for the protection of the fundamental human rights and dignity of people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS in Nigeria. It was written for and applies to all persons living with and affected by HIV and AIDS in Nigeria as well as the judiciary, employers of labour and employees in the public and private sectors including the Nigerian Armed Forces, Nigeria Police, State Security Services, other paramilitary organizations, schools, hospitals and places of worship.

INTRODUCTION

Vulnerable and poor citizens whether in Nigeria or across the world are the population that suffers most human rights abuses associated with petty offences. As the hashtag to the global campaign to decriminalize petty offences goes, #povertyisnotanoffence. In Nigeria today, 70% of those awaiting trials in our correctional centres are persons accused of petty offences.

Petty Offences are offences other than felonies or misdemeanors that targets the poor in any society. Petty offences are said to “wear the face of Poverty”.

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