Hope Behind Bars Africa

At 12:35am this morning ,17 year old Deborah was released from the Dutse Alhaji Divisional police station after her bail was perfected. She is pictured here with Ms. Dorothy NJEMANZE, the founder of Dorothy Njemanze Foundation (DNF), her mother and Samuel Idowu Olukade (ACIArb), a legal counsel with Hope Behind Bars Africa. Inspite of her release on bail, the case is far from over. WE HEREBY DEMAND THAT ALL RELEVANT AUTHORITIES TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO RECTIFY THE GRAVE INJUSTICE that has been done. Those responsible for her earlier unlawful detention should be held accountable for their actions. We further call for a comprehensive review of the procedures surrounding the treatment of minors within the justice system to prevent future violations of their rights. The Nigerian government must uphold its obligations under both national and international law to protect the rights of all individuals, especially the most vulnerable among us. #FreeDeborahOshinowo

Attending the 81st Ordinary Session of the ACHPR in Banjul, The Gambia. I’m currently in the beautiful smiling coast of The Gambia to attend the 81st Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR). As part of the DefendDefenders delegation, I’ve had the honor of contributing to discussions on key human rights issues in Africa. At the NGO Forum (October 13-15), we explored this year’s theme, "Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality, and Relevant Learning in Africa." The conversations have been incredibly insightful and inspiring. I also had the opportunity to speak at a side event titled 'From Hashtag to Handcuffs,' where I shared the work of Hope Behind Bars Africa on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and our efforts in advocating for this fundamental right. It’s a privilege to be part of the AfricanDefenders (Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network) (Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network) delegation, standing with fellow human rights defenders to address pressing human rights issues across the continent. If you’re in Banjul, I’d love to connect! #ACHPR #HumanRights #Africa #Banjul #HopeBehindBarsAfrica #Education #FreedomOfAssembly #AfricanDefenders

Isaiah is a beneficiary of the Inside Out Hub program of Hope Behind Bars Africa at Dukpa Correctional Centre, and he shared how the initiative transformed his life. “I used to think that incarceration meant the end of my life, that I could never be somebody,” he said. “But now, I have learnt tailoring so well that even this uniform I’m wearing was made by me.” Through the Inside Out Program, we are maximising the potential for reform that custodial centers were designed for, reducing the rate of reoffending and giving incarcerated individuals a chance at redemption and reintegration into society. Our vocational skill centers help reduce reoffending in Africa by equipping incarcerated people with skills to support themselves and contribute positively to society. #criminaljusticereform #reformation #rehabilitation

A significant number of individuals incarcerated for low-level offences remain behind bars simply because they cannot afford the fines imposed by the courts. This was the unfortunate reality for Nuhu, Sani, Yushua, and Abubakar, who each spent around two months in prison due to their inability to pay fines of less than ₦100,000 ($61). The criminalisation of poverty is evident in cases like these, where freedom becomes a privilege for those who can afford fines, while our correctional facilities struggle with overcrowding and insufficient resources to properly rehabilitate and reform inmates. Thanks to the generous donations received by Hope Behind Bars Africa we were able to pay the fines for these individuals, securing their release. We remain deeply grateful for the support of donors like you, which helps us close the justice and inequality gap, one case at a time. #accesstojustice #criminaljusticereform

In a democratic society, safeguarding digital rights and ensuring freedom of expression in the online space should be a priority. This is why we participated in the DefendDefenders side event on combating digital repression in Africa tagged ‘From Hashtag to Handcuffs’. Hope Behind Bars Africa Program Manager, Nurudeen Hassan spoke on our organisation’s efforts to combat digital repression and uphold the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly in the face of restrictive laws like the Cyber Crimes Act. Through dialogue and coalition building we are discovering more strategies to foster public participation and address the challenges facing Civil Society in Africa. #freedomofassembly #protectthecivicspace #freetomeet

For more than 35 years, Ashoka has built and nurtured the largest network of leading social entrepreneurs in the world. The word "social entrepreneurship" was in fact first used by the Founder of Ashoka Bill Drayton A "by nomination and by invitation" only fellowship, this time last year, I received a call from Ashoka Africa informing me that I was being considered for the next selection pool. A significant aspect of the process involved navigating five stages of interviews, where amongst others, I had to articulate how our work at Hope Behind Bars Africa is transforming Nigeria's penal system to a panel that consisted of experts in different fields within Africa and beyond. A key part of this involved sharing our new idea—the Inside-Out model. This model collaboratively works with the Nigerian Correctional Service and the private sector to address the reformation and reintegration needs of justice-impacted individuals both inside prison and after their release, focusing on education, behaviorial change and vocational skills including agriculture. Anecdotal evidence from our work showed that this model has reduced recidivism by 100%. When I received the call that I had been unanimously accepted into the Ashoka fellowship by the board in DC, my team and I felt this further validates the ingenuity of our work. I am super grateful to all our partners Global Citizen The Fund for Global Human Rights The Pollination Project Foundation IREX World Coalition Against the Death Penalty Cornell University LEAP Africa Subomi Plumptre Trust for the trust and support through the years. We have enjoyed the generosity of several senior friends, individual donors and most importantly strategic direction of our board members Gabriel Okeowo -Bsc., MPDI, Msc. Stanley Ibe Nguemo Uja. Thank you. I am personally grateful to Ikenna Anyadike for his guidiance through our the entire process. To Omowumi Ogunrotimi, my friend and another Ashoka Fellow. Thank you for being an amazing example of "women supporting women" and for leading the way in this Systems Change work. To the humans of Hope Behind Bars Africa. My team, our over 200 probono lawyers and volunteers and everyone who believes in the work we do. This win is for us all. Let us now look forward to how this new network would further enhance our impact and reach.

During our visit to Apo Police Station with Magistrate Abdulmajid Oniyangi, we joined Hope Behind Bars Africa, Citizen Gavel, the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee, and Nigerian Law School Externs to stand up for justice. One case that stood out was the case of a young man who was advised to reconcile with his father for release, highlighting the importance of restorative justice. A female detainee arrested for fraud was supported by AWJAI and released the same day. Overcrowding remains a major issue with 27 men & 2 women crammed into 3 cells. We must push for better facilities and humane conditions. Read about restorative justice here: https://lnkd.in/deXFDr78 #ACJA #JusticeReform #RestorativeJustice #Nigeria

My first professional interaction with Stanley Ibe is truly unforgettable. During our initial phone call, he offered invaluable insights and contacts that significantly benefitted our work. One of the experts whose work has greatly impacted the criminal justice sphere in Africa and beyond. What really stood out for me was his detailed feedback after I shared a written document about our work. Just two years into building Hope Behind Bars Africa, the suggestions he provided helped strengthen our programs over the years. Stanley’s commitment to our organisation since joining our board in 2023 has been a contributory factor to a lot of the impact have made within the past year. Thank you for your contributions and the positive change you inspires in all of us. Happy Birthday, Stanley Ibe

We are live in Banjul, The Gambia at the 81st Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) and the NGO Forum; ably represented by Nurudeen Hassan, our Programs Manager. Part of our engagement so far includes contributing to the discourse on the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Freedom of Expression which has faced intense pressure in Africa over the past year. Hope Behind Bars Africa is proud to be part of this critical platform for advancing human rights and justice across Africa. #HumanRights #Africa #AfricanCharter

Isaiah is a beneficiary of the Inside Out Hub program of Hope Behind Bars Africa at Dukpa Correctional Centre, and he shared how the initiative transformed his life. “I used to think that incarceration meant the end of my life, that I could never be somebody,” he said. “But now, I have learnt tailoring so well that even this uniform I’m wearing was made by me.” Through the Inside Out Program, we are maximising the potential for reform that custodial centers were designed for, reducing the rate of reoffending and giving incarcerated individuals a chance at redemption and reintegration into society. Our vocational skill centers help reduce reoffending in Africa by equipping incarcerated people with skills to support themselves and contribute positively to society. #criminaljusticereform #reformation #rehabilitation