Amnesty International has warned that human rights violations in Nigeria are worsening despite increased awareness, citing sexual violence, rape, banditry and abuses in detention facilities as persistent concerns.
The organisation said the trend underscores the need for stronger protection of human rights and greater support for those documenting abuses across the country.
Speaking on Thursday at a two-day Human Rights Defenders training in Kano, the Programme Manager of Amnesty International Nigeria, Barbara Magaji, said young human rights defenders continue to face intimidation and harassment while carrying out their work.
“Young human rights defenders are at the frontline of civic engagement in Nigeria, documenting abuses, mobilising communities and holding those in power accountable.
"Yet shrinking civic space, marked by arrests, harassment, legal intimidation and weak accountability, exposes them to significant risks that undermine their safety and effectiveness,” she said.
She said Amnesty International Nigeria, with support from the German Embassy Fund, organised the training to strengthen the capacity of young defenders to document violations ethically, protect themselves from physical and digital threats, and engage more effectively in human rights advocacy.
According to her, the Kano workshop is the third in a series of regional trainings targeting 90 Amnesty International volunteers across the country.
“We are equipping young human rights defenders with the knowledge, skills and safety tools they need to engage more safely and sustainably in human rights work,” she said.
Barbara said participants received practical sessions on ethical documentation of human rights violations, security and resilience, data analysis, advocacy and community action planning.
She added that the training is expected to strengthen Amnesty International’s network of volunteers and improve documentation and reporting of human rights violations across Nigeria.
One of the participants, Mustapha Sani Makama, said the training had improved his understanding of documenting human rights violations and protecting civic space.
“The training has shown me the proper way to document human rights violations. I will use the knowledge I have gained to educate people at the grassroots on their rights and encourage them to defend those rights through lawful means,” Makama said.
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