Activities:

December 11 to December 16, 2002 (Abuja and Kaduna)

• Held a human rights film and cartoon festival which aimed to provide a forum for reflection and debate on the violation and preservation of human rights. The films were shown in Abuja and Kaduna. Amongst the themes covered were womens rights, child rights, migrant worker issues and general human rights. Each show was followed by seminars and panel discussions.

October 23 to October 25, 2002 (Sokoto Nigeria)

• Held a workshop on the legal status of women in Nigeria. The workshop was intended to raise awareness on issues surrounding the status of women in Nigeria and to sensitize and mobilize policy makers, opinion leaders and government officials to consider actions to address women rights violations in the Sharia practicing states in northern Nigeria. It was attended by 120 participants from the public, voluntary and academic sectors, as well as from the media.

July 04 to 06 July, 2002 (Port Harcourt Nigeria)

•  Organized a regional seminar on Women in national politics. The objective of the seminar was to enhance womens political participation in the political process and to support a nation-wide movement for reform of election procedures in Nigeria to assure the equal representation of women. The seminar was followed by a planning workshop which looked at ways of building strategies in elections, media and lobbying.

April 17, 2002 (Lagos, Nigeria)

• NCGHHR Participated in the steering group meeting for a Southern Nigeria Judicial Colloquium Series. The meeting was attended by 56 participants, including the chief justices of Lagos State, Oyo State, Rivers State, Delta State, Niger State, Benue State and judges and lawyers from the superior courts of Nigeria. In the meeting agreement was reached on the need for a four-year Nigeria Judicial Colloquium Series and a contact group of judges was established from the region, together with an advisory group for convening the series. A preliminary meeting subsequently took place.

      March 18, 2002 (Abuja, Nigeria)

• Held a national workshop on Gender and governance to celebrate International Womens Day. Subjects covered included politics and law; arts and literature; business, industry and entrepreneurship; and communication, media and IT. Other events included a poster exhibition, Women at work.

January 19 to February 2, 2002 (Enugu, Nigeria)

• Managed a training project (in conjunction with University of Nigeria, Enugu) working with performers and community development workers on a participatory theatre approach to the health rights rights of women and social/economic rights. This is a three-phase project with two phases now complete.

January 12 - 18, 2002 (Lagos, Nigeria)

Training program (in conjunction with the Lagos State Radio Broadcasting Service) aimed to combat child labor by providing alternative income-generating skills for families in need and children so that children might remain in school. Training program also aimed at capacity building of institutions and raising awareness about child labor, trafficking and prostitution.

    August 12 to November 12, 2001

Child Rights Policy Development  Campaigns

Aim of these campaigns - to encourage a comprehensive approach to the development and implementation of an overall policy towards children both at the state and non-governmental levels. Significant attention is paid to the rights of vulnerable children. Activities of this campaign include, above all, communication with relevant government ministries, professionals in institutions, NGOs and children and youth.

Campaign Activities:
Preparation and encouragement of the implementation of the new National Plan of Action for children.
Encouraging a continual dialogue between the state, NGOs, institutions, the private sector, children and youth in order to develop and implement policies adequate to childrens needs and in compliance with standards set by the Convention.
Professional support to child rights focused NGOs.
Support to the development of a national coalition of child focused NGOs
Activities focused on the improvement of living conditions and development of vulnerable groups of children.

            February 10 to July 10 2001

Campaign Against Female Genital  Mutilation

A 12 States campaign program to discourage female circumcision capable of endangering feminine reproductive health began in Akure, Ondo State May 14. The SIX months national campaign featured a documentary film focusing on the eradication of Female Genital Mutilation (FMG). Lectures/workshops in over 280 high schools, colleges, local health centers, and town hall meetings.

Female circumcision, the partial or total cutting away of the external
female genitalia, has been practiced for centuries in parts of Africa,
generally as one element of a rite of passage preparing young girls for
womanhood and marriage. Often performed without anesthetic under septic
conditions by lay practitioners with little or no knowledge of human anatomy
or medicine, female circumcision can cause death or permanent health
problems as well as severe pain. Despite these grave risks, its
practitioners look on it as an integral part of their cultural and ethnic
identity, and some perceive it as a religious obligation.

This first phase of anti genital mutilation campaign covered 12 States (Edo State, Delta State, Bayelsa State, Rivers State, Oyo State, Kano State, Akwa Ibom State, Enugu State, Anambra State, Imo State, Lagos State, and Ogun State.