JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT

JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS

This is another programmatic department of the Justice, Development and Peace Makers’ Centre, Osogbo that plays key roles in the Justice System of Osun state. The objective of the department is to promote peaceful co-existence through promotion of respect for human rights. To achieve this, the department collaborates with state and non-state actors within the state. Some of the strategies devised to achieve the objective are free legal services, out of court mediation, capacity enhancement programmes for stakeholders, advocacy, rehabilitation/reformation support, awareness creation through community outreaches, street/market rallies, radio programme, production and distribution of educative, informative and communicative materials, workshops/seminars and others

SOME OF OUR ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENT SINCE INCEPTION OF THE ORGANIZATION

Legal Aid and rehabilitation support

The programme provides free legal services to vulnerable and indigent members of the society who cannot afford to hire the service of a lawyer. Inmates in custodial centres and ex-inmates are also provided support for their rehabilitation and reintegration into the society. Since the establishment of the organization, justice and human right department has rendered legal aid to more than 3,000 persons.

As a result of our legal aid, not less than 350 Defendants have been discharged and acquitted, and released from custodial Centres.
The rights of over 105 women who were victims of different forms of Gender Based Violence have been upheld
14 children who were in conflict with the law were provided support for their registration at the Nigeria Correctional Service Borstal Home in Abeakuta Ogun state for their three years rehabilitation/reformation programme.
The programme has also provided nutritional and other welfare support for children at the Osun State Correctional Home.
The programme has supported the Nigerian Correctional Service Centers in Ife and Ilesa with necessary tool for skill acquisition such as tools for tailoring, barbing and carpentry works.
The programme also rehabilitated the structure designated for the Open University Centre in the Nigeria Correctional Service Centre, Ilesa in 2020 and currently 12 students are running degree programmes in the Centre. Exercise books and other writing material were also provided for inmates in the custodial Centres.
More than 560 criminal suspects have been provided legal representation at different offices of the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp and other law enforcement agencies.
Not less than 60 ex-inmates have been empowered to earn a living outside the Custodial Centre through provision of start-up fund and tools for business.

Trained 31 Magistrates, 24 lawyers, 24 security enforcement officers (Police and NSCDC) and 15 Officers of the Nigeria Correctional Service on the provisions and effective implementation of the Osun State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2018.
Carried out a survey in November, 2019 on the awareness of the Osun State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2018 and the outcome showed 80% of the people were ignorant of the law.
Through community outreaches, Sensitized 1,050 persons in 24 communities on the rights and responsibilities of criminal Suspects/Defendants under the Osun State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2018.
Produced and distributed posters, handbills and stickers on the provisions of the Osun State ACJL.
Trained and inaugurated a civil society observatory group consisting of representative of civil society groups and Nigeria Bar Association to track the implementation of the Osun State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2018.
Trained 50 traditional chiefs from ten communities across the state on alternative dispute resolution.
In collaboration with the trained community-based mediation committees resolved not less than 400 cases through mediation.
Simplified, produced and distributed 2,000 copies of the child’s rights law.
Trained 240 volunteers on the provision of the Osun State child’s Rights Law, 2007 and tracking and reporting child abuse to necessary authorities.
Sensitized about 3,200 in-schools and 1,400 out of school children in 48 schools and 10 religious houses respectively on their rights and duties under the Osun State Child’s Rights Law, 2007.
Through weekly radio programme on OSBC radio station and later Rave FM sensitized the people on their fundamental rights, how to defend their rights and available service providers on issues relating to human rights.
Provided protective materials such as nose masks, handwash buckets and hand sanitizers to security agents and inmates at the Nigeria Service Custodial Centres during the Corona Virus Pandemic.
Empowered more than 20 gender-based violence survivors

Capacity building programmes and awareness creation

ADVOCACY FOR POLICY REFORM

For improved policy and law to promote gender equality and other fundamental rights in Osun State, the organization has collaborated with other stakeholders for domestication of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2018 and the Osun State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2021. The organization also contributed to bills passed by the State House of Assembly during public hearings.

Organized more than 15 seminars/workshops to dialogue and develop plans for the domestication of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and implementation of the Osun State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2018.
Organized 8 seminars/workshops to strategize on the domestication of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015.
A roundtable meeting was organized for stakeholder to review the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, 2015 for possible domestication of the law in Osun state. The harmonized copy of the review was presented to the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly. Some of the notable innovations in the State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2021 are results of the review presented to the Speaker.
Contributed during public hearings on bills at the state house of Assembly, some of such bills are the Anti-Kidnapping bill and the Osun State Amotekun Bill.
Made advocacy visits to duty bearers and influencers at different levels to campaign respect for human rights and peaceful co-existence. some of the stakeholders visited are the Osun State House of Assembly, the Osun State Judiciary, the Nigerian Correctional Service, the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Legal Aid Council, National Human Rights Commission, traditional and religious leaders, other Government Ministries and Agencies.