ASF France, Lawyers Partner On Safe Support Project
By Our Correspondent
As part of its commitment to the development of Human Rights law and litigation in Nigeria, Avocats Sans Frontières France/Lawyers Without Borders France (ASF France) held a coordination meeting for its network of SAFE Support lawyers and pro bono lawyers from the Nigerian Bar Association under the auspices of its SAFE project. SAFE which started in June 2019 with the support of the European Union (EU) and the Agence Française de Developpement (AFD) is an acronym for Strengthening the National Actors Capacities and Advocating For Ending Serious Human Rights Violations in Nigeria”.
The project is targeted at addressing human rights violations of torture, extrajudicial killings, and arbitrary detentions in Nigeria.
The Coordination Meeting had in attendance 14 Lawyers from the SAFE focal states of Lagos, Kaduna, and Enugu. It presented an opportunity for peer-group review and experiential knowledge sharing on the project’s legal aid successes and challenges.
“We remain resolute in our commitment to deploying the best of resources in defending Fundamental Human Rights in Nigeria, starting with a very strong and capable human capital base” ASF Head of Office in Nigeria, Angela Uwandu says.
The development of Human Rights jurisprudence can only be enriched when all stakeholders are adequately trained and knowledge is exchanged effectively.
ASF France, she says has through the SAFE project provided access to justice for 53 victims of torture, extrajudicial killings and arbitrary detention in the first year of the SAFE project across Enugu, Kaduna, and Lagos states.
“I am really glad to have been a part of this meeting. It has offered me the opportunity to interact and share experiences with my colleagues on the SAFE project and representative of the Nigerian Bar Association. I feel highly motivated by the views and experiences shared, says Chigozie Ikedimma, SAFE Support lawyer in Lagos state.
The SAFE project is implemented by Avocats Sans Frontières France in Nigeria in partnership with the Nigerian Bar Association and the Carmelite Prisoners’ Interest Organization.
