Civil Society Observatory On The Administration Of Criminal Justice In Nigeria Takes Its Advocacy To Akwa Ibom State

The Civil Society Observatory on the Administration of Criminal Justice in Nigeria in line with its mandate to drive advocacy and popularize the provisions of the Act among the key criminal justice stakeholders met with the officers and men of the Nigeria Police  and Nigeria Prisons Service in Akwa Ibom State as part of its activities during its just concluded 3rd Quarterly Observatory Meeting held on 22nd February, 2018.

The visits which were made to Abak Police Station, ‘D’ Division Police Station, Itam, and Ikot Ekpene Medium Prison  brought to the fore the good practices that the officers and men of the Nigeria Police  in the two Police divisions have adopted in the aspect of community policing grounded on transparency,  accountability and community engagement. The members of the Observatory were also intimated on   the daunting challenges that the Police and Prisons grapple with on a daily basis.

Commending the agencies for their exemplary work/efforts, the Observatory called on the officers and men of the Nigeria Police  and Prisons Service to make concerted efforts to familiarize themselves with their roles and responsibilities as provided in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 (ACJA) to further strengthen their work.

Not oblivious of the challenges and constraints being faced by the officers and men of the Nigeria Police  and Nigeria Prisons Service which adversely affect the full and successful implementation of the ACJA, 2015, the Observatory, therefore, makes the following recommendations:

·        the Nigerian government urgently needs to take constructive  steps  to ensure that the requisite infrastructure, equipment and capacity building required by the relevant criminal justice agencies  be put in place for  the ACJA, 2015 to work effectively.

·        the Observatory has come across a number of DPOs and other senior cadre officers who are willing and determined, against all odds, to provide professional and exemplary leadership and to ensure that they and other officers under them discharge their duties responsibly, transparently and accountably. The Nigerian government and the Police hierarchy must encourage such officers by addressing the dire funding, operational, capacity  and welfare deficits currently hampering Police effectiveness and professionalism.

·        the government  needs to urgently address the overcrowded cells in the Ikot-Ekpene Prison and the alarming number of 658 Awaiting Trial Persons(ATPs) in the 400-capacity Prison which currently holds a total of  772 inmates.

·         the Federal and State Governments in partnership with NGOs need to properly equip and fully utilize the workshops and educational facility in the Ikot-Ekpene Prison to aid the reformation of the inmates.

·        while the Observatory commends the efforts of the Akwa Ibom State Government for the domestication of the ACJA, 2015,  the State Government is urged to do all within its power to ensure that the law is properly implemented.

·        other states are, therefore, called upon to domesticate the ACJA, 2015 for the effective management of criminal justice in Nigeria.

The Observatory pledges its continued commitment to contributing towards the implementation of the ACJA, 2015 through the organization and sensitization programs on the ACJA, 2015 for the officers and men of the Nigeria Police, Prisons Service, and general public in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria in general.

Signed:

Civil Society Observatory Group on the Implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice in Nigeria -

1.       Chinwike Okereke Esq, African Law Foundation(AFRILAW), Enugu State

2.       Mr. Saviour Akpan, Community Policing Partners for Justice, Security and Democratic Reforms (COMPPART),Akwa-Ibom State

3.       Henry Okereke Justice Esq, Development and Peace Makers' Centre (JDPMC), Osun State

4.       Alhaji Iskil Yusuf, Controller of Prisons (rtd), Oyo State

5.       Mr. Okey Nwanguma, Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria (NOPRIN), Lagos State

6.       Musa Aliyu Abubakar Esq, Partnership for Development Action, Jigawa State

7.       Mr. Mbami Iliya Subka, Prison Inmate Development Initiative(PIDI), Bauchi State

8.       Ahmed Adetola-Kazeem Esq, Prisoners' Rights Advocacy Initiative(PRAI), Lagos State

9.       Mr. Tijani AbdulKareem, Socio Economic Research and Development Center (SERDEC), Kogi State

10.   Dr. Cheluchi Onyemelukwe, Academic/Independent Legal Consultant, Lagos State

11.    Kehinde Adegbite Esq, Private Legal Practitioner, Oyo State

12.   Mr. Robert Ndukwe, Locate Initiative for Missing and Exploited Persons (Locate NG), Lagos State

13.   Prof Joy Ezeilo, Women Aid Collective (WACOL) (Observatory Advisor), Enugu State

14.   Mrs. Blessing Abiri, CLEEN Foundation(Secretariat), Lagos State

Call for Expression of Interest (EOI): Sexual and Gender Based Violence Response Team

Date of EOI: 23rd February, 2018

Closing Date of the EOI: 7th March 2018

Email EOI to: cleen@cleen.org

1. Purpose of Expression of Interest(EOI)

CLEEN Foundation seeks Expression of Interest (EOI) from qualified professionals to develop interventions on Sexual and Gender based Violence through trainings, engagements, meetings, and the development of new materials to address the critical issues underpinning the increase in Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Nigeria. While also taking into cognizance the new trends of Conflict Related Sexual Violence suffered by Women, Girls, Men, Boys during conflicts and crisis.

2. Background

The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights(UDHR) in 1948 which directed member nations to promote and protect “a number of human, civil, political, economic and social rights, asserting these rights are part of the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.” A number of other measures and legislative frameworks were put in motion by the UN and member nations to protect the rights of women, girls and other vulnerable groups from Sexual and Gender Based Violence. These instruments are response to the bitter experiences women and other vulnerable persons in-conflict and post-conflict periods which include but not limited to rape, torture, forced marriage, mutilation, pregnancies, STD's/STI's etc. Sexual and Gender Based Violence refers to any act that is perpetrated against a person's will and is based on gender norms and unequal power relationships. It encompasses threats of violence and coercion. It can be physical, emotional, psychological and sexual in nature, and can take the form of denial of resources or access to services. It inflicts harm on women, girls, men and boys. In Nigeria, the war against SGBV has taken a downturn in fortunes as a result of the patriarchal and primordial nature of the society. SGBV has now become a canker worm that has eaten deep into the development and entrenchment of fundamental human rights of victims and has become a pervasive and ubiquitous problem with impunity. This is occurring against a backdrop of policy and legislative measures such as Child Rights Acts, CEDAW, Violence against persons prohibition act amongst others developed to tackle this menace, as current statistics on SGBV  shows that one woman in ten in the Niger-Delta has reported either being raped or attempted being raped. 46.5 percent of women in Africa have experienced some form of violence. This figure in Northern Nigeria shows that it is one in three women.

It is against this backdrop that experts in Sexual and Gender based Violence are needed on the CLEEN Foundation BUILD Project to deliver interventions on SGBV through trainings, engagements, meetings, and the development of new materials on addressing these issues.

3. Objective of the Engagement 

• To conduct training on Sexual and Gender Based violence;

• To develop new materials on addressing Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Nigeria at the demand and supply sides of the Government, relevant stakeholders and the public;

• To convene and facilitate stakeholders meeting on addressing the challenges of SGBV in Nigeria;

• To conduct needs assessment for the FCT Domestic and Sexual Violence response Team.

4. Scope of Work

The consultants will be responsible for the following:

• Assessment of existing Structures and Services provided by relevant Government agencies, CSO's and law enforcement agents under the FCT- SGBV Response Team; in order to identify gaps, where they exist, and offer members of the team and the public better knowledge of the services provided;

• Develop training materials for project beneficiaries (FCT – SGBV Response Team), CLEEN Foundation, and relevant stakeholders on methods of response to Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV); 

• Facilitate training programs for agencies and institutions working under the team(FCT - SGBV Response Team) especially critical agencies like the Police, Health and Legal Services;

• Convene and also facilitate stakeholders  meetings with representatives of various states with existing sexual assault and referrals centers(SARC) for learning and skills sharing;

• Work closely with CLEEN Foundation to produce robust advocacy and awareness IEC materials for SGBV campaign using multi-media platforms;

• Drive Advocacy with relevant stakeholders in the prevention of SGBV to encourage 

compliance with the Violence against Person's prohibition Act.

5. Requirements 

All interested professionals must submit the following:

1. A Cover Letter with evidence of relevant past work experience(s)  in the area of Prevention of Sexual and Gender based violence;
2. 2 Referees conversant with the work of the professionals;
3. A recent Personal CV/Resume and at least 3 references (Individuals only)

6. Submission of Expression of Interest(EOI)

All submissions should be sent to cleen@cleen.org no later than close of business on 7th March 2018.  Interested organisations are strongly encouraged to apply.

If you have any additional questions about this Call for Expression of Interest (EOI), please email cleen@cleen.org cc ruth.okugbeni@cleen.org   No phone calls or sms please.



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