Amnesty International marked International Women’s Day by educating women, girls, and residents of Iddo-Sarki, FCT, on their rights and access to justice.
The campaign highlighted women’s and girls’ rights, legal protections, and ways to seek justice in cases of abuse.
Speaking during the outreach on Saturday, the Programme Manager at Amnesty International, Barbara Magaji, said the initiative was inspired by the theme of the 2026 Women’s Day celebration, which focused on women’s rights and justice.
According to Magaji, Amnesty International recognised that many women and girls in the rural community are often unaware of their rights or the laws that protect them.
“So we looked at the theme of the year, which talks about ‘Rights, Justice, Action For ALL Women and Girls’.
“In the course of our work, we see that many women and girls at community levels do not even understand what their rights are or even know what the laws are, not to talk of seeking redress and justice. So, we thought it wise to do this.”
Magaji clarified that extending the campaign to rural communities was a deliberate effort to ensure everyone, regardless of location, benefits from human rights awareness.
“Human rights are for everyone. That is why we identified a community in the FCT for this outreach.
“We are not only doing this here; our volunteers and supporters in about six states are also carrying out similar activities to commemorate the rights of women and girls,” she added.
To ensure effective communication, Magaji said the campaign team used multiple languages spoken in the community, including English, Pidgin, Hausa and the Gbagyi/Gbari dialect.
Representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA, Nigeria Abuja Branch) joined Amnesty International to enlighten residents on various forms of violence against women and the available legal remedies.
The Chairperson of FIDA, Abuja Branch, Chioma Onyenucheya-Uko, explained that violence against women goes beyond physical abuse and includes acts such as sexual coercion, eviction from homes and other forms of gender-based violence.
“Many people think violence must be physical before it becomes an offence.
“However, there are other forms such as sexual and gender-based violence, coercion and even domestic actions like evicting a woman from her home,” she said.
She advised victims of abuse to prioritise their safety by leaving dangerous environments and reporting incidents immediately to enable authorities to preserve evidence and pursue justice.
“In cases of physical or sexual violence, victims should report immediately. Delays such as bathing or cleaning up may destroy evidence that could help secure justice,” she explained.
Onyenucheya-Uko added that victims could report incidents to community leaders, trusted elders, the police, or directly contact FIDA on 08060774236 for legal support.
She further warned that individuals who aid, protect or conceal perpetrators of violence are also liable under the law.
Onyenucheya-Uko emphasised that educating rural communities is vital to bridging the information gap and ensuring everyone is aware of their rights and protections.
“Knowledge is power. When people understand their rights, potential perpetrators will be deterred, and victims will be empowered to seek help.”
She disclosed that FIDA Abuja is considering establishing a community-based paralegal unit in Iddo-Sarki to provide immediate support for victims and guide them on legal processes.
In his remarks, the Village Head of Iddo-Sarki community, Chief Bello Sarki, commended Amnesty International for bringing the human rights awareness campaign to the community.
Sarki pledged his support for protecting girls’ and women’s rights and urged residents to use the knowledge gained to promote peace and ensure the protection of women and children in the community, emphasising that sustained commitment to these principles is critical to the community’s future.
