Our mission to protect human rights in Nigeria is a collective endeavour, involving partnerships with local and international organizations as well as activists from around the world. We employ legal representation, legal research, legal advocacy, strategic litigation, and stakeholder engagement to achieve our objectives.
Our work is guided by the unique needs of every person made vulnerable by discriminatory laws and policies in Nigeria. Their needs serve as our compass, ensuring that our legal interventions remain relevant and responsive to both the individual victims we represent and the broader communities we serve.
Demanding for the repeal of all laws that persecute people on the basis of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
Pushing for the express inclusion of sexual orientation and/or gender identity as protected grounds under the constitutional right to freedom from discrimination,
Challenging violations of the rights of LGBTQI individuals, including unlawful police arrests and detentions in court.
Enforcing the rights of survivors of violent human rights violations in court.
Enforcing the employment and other rights of people living with HIV in court.
Our highly skilled legal aid team is committed to offering expert legal representation to LGBTQI persons who are persecuted on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and or their health status. This includes cases of discrimination, wrongful arrests, wrongful dismissals from the workplace, harassment, and much more. We diligently advocate for the rights of survivors in courts to ensure justice is served. We also provide confidential and informative legal consultation to help LGBTQI and other marginalised individuals to understand their rights within the Nigerian legal system. We aim to empower them with knowledge and guidance to make informed decisions.
At the core of our mission lies our commitment to in-depth legal research. Comprising a team of seasoned legal experts and paralegals, we embark on a profound exploration of Nigerian legislation, international human rights norms, and legal precedents. This diligent process forms the bedrock of our profound grasp of the intricate legal framework that encompasses the rights of LGBTQI and other marginalized persons in Nigeria. Our vigilance extends to vigilant monitoring and rigorous analysis of legislative advancements, judicial rulings, and policy shifts. This ensures that we remain at the vanguard of legal advocacy, fighting ardently for the protection and enforcement of the rights of those made vulnerable by discriminatory laws and policies in Nigeria.
At Minority Watch, we believe in the transformative power of strategic litigation. Our dedicated team of legal professionals and paralegals are very committed to effecting meaningful change in society. For us, strategic litigation goes beyond mere legal battles; it is a tool for reshaping the legal landscape and driving societal transformation. We carefully choose cases with the potential to create significant impacts on the people we serve in Nigeria, crafting strong arguments rooted in international human rights standards and legal expertise. Our goal extends beyond individual justice; we challenge discriminatory laws and practices affecting the lives of members of the LGBTQI community, people living with HIV, and women and girls.
We understand that achieving our mission to protect and enforce the rights of LGBTQI persons, people living with HIV, women and girls in Nigeria requires collaboration and engagement with diverse stakeholders. Our organisation is deeply committed to building bridges and fostering meaningful relationships.
Stakeholder engagement is more than a strategy to us; it is our ethos. We actively seek partnerships with government agencies, civil society organisations, the LGBTQI community, and the public. Through open dialogue, we aim to create a collective voice advocating for the rights of the people we serve.