On Thursday 21st November 2024, women lawyers from across the country began to throng the capital city of Abuja to take part in the lineup of activities curated to mark the 60th anniversary of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria.
FIDA is the acronym for the Spanish name “Federación Internacional de Abogadas.”
Established in Nigeria in 1964 by Ambassador Aduke Alakija, FIDA Nigeria, a Non-governmental Organization made up of women called to the practice of law in Nigeria is dedicated to advancing justice for women and children.
FIDA Nigeria is affiliated with FIDA International and operates 46 branches across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. It was formally registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission on July 31, 1987, and holds Observer Status with both the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
FIDA Nigeria’s mission is to promote and protect the rights and welfare of women and children, striving for a society free from discrimination, violence, and abuse. It envisions a peaceful Nigeria where women and children’s rights are guaranteed, protected have freedom to choose and live their futures.
With over 6,500 registered members nationwide, FIDA Nigeria leverages a transgenerational mentorship initiative to foster the next generation of female legal professionals, equipping young lawyers and law students with skills in legal practice, leadership, and advocacy for gender justice.
Through a series of impactful interventions, FIDA Nigeria is dedicated to advancing the rights, interests, and well-being of women and children, actively working to reduce all forms of discrimination, violence, and abuse through legal frameworks and strategic policies within Nigeria’s social structures. Over its 60 years of service, FIDA Nigeria has profoundly improved the lives of countless women, children and vulnerable populations, remaining resilient despite various challenges. FIDA Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to its mission continues to drive meaningful change, fostering safer communities for women, children, and vulnerable populations across the country.
As a leading women’s rights organization in Nigeria, FIDA Nigeria remains resolute in advocating for policies that promote the rights and welfare of women, children, and vulnerable groups.
Employing a comprehensive, collaborative approach, FIDA Nigeria works in close partnership with other civil society organizations, government agencies, and international partners to drive substantive policy change. The organisation’s sustained engagement with government bodies addresses critical issues of neglect and deficiencies in support systems for these groups, enabling us to influence key policy reforms and offer evidence-based recommendations to close gaps in welfare and protection.
FIDA Nigeria’s achievements include significant advocacy for legislation and legal frameworks that advance the protection and rights of women and children. Through targeted efforts, we have addressed critical issues such as gender-based violence, discrimination, and socioeconomic barriers that disproportionately impact these groups.
Notably, FIDA Nigeria played a pivotal role in the passage of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act in 2015, serving as the Secretariat for the Legislative Advocacy Coalition on Violence Against Women (LACVAW) and coordinating a successful campaign to secure this comprehensive legal protection against violence.
FIDA Nigeria’s commitment to enhancing access to justice for women, children, and persons with disabilities has led to the establishment of legal clinics across our 46 branches nationwide.
With over 90,000 trained paralegals, FIDA Nigeria assists more than 3,000 people annually in accessing essential legal services. Her outreach programmes support female inmates in 36 correctional centres, and she provides referrals and case linkages for women, children, and persons with disabilities.
Since its inception, FIDA Nigeria has undertaken numerous strategic impact litigation cases, which are mostly pro bono cases. In recognition of this work, FIDA Nigeria has enjoyed filing fee waivers from several State High Courts.
Additionally, in the past 60 years, FIDA Nigeria has significantly raised awareness of legal rights among women, children and vulnerable populations.
Through partnerships with the Legal Aid Council and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, FIDA Nigeria has simplified essential legal frameworks, including the Child Rights Act, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act/Law, and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act/Law.
The NGO’s public education initiatives have reached countless individuals, empowering them with knowledge of their rights and fostering a culture of legal literacy across Nigeria.
Towards broadening social impact and expanding her reach to citizens in Nigeria, especially women and children, FIDA Nigeria has expanded its reach by encouraging its branches to embrace impactful initiatives of adopting medical wards in public hospitals such that she can directly target the vulnerable sick indigent women and children in health who need medical care and support. Some of her branches are actively engaging in this initiative and are making a social impact across the Nation.
To advance women’s political participation in Nigeria, FIDA Nigeria launched the Women Protection Mandate, providing legal support to female candidates challenging election outcomes where irregularities hindered their mandates. This initiative aims to increase women’s representation in governance and decision-making by addressing election-related injustices.
FIDA Nigeria has also established a strong track record in building institutional capacity to address Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) effectively. By strengthening the capacities of law enforcement agencies, legislative bodies, judiciary members, social service providers, civil society organizations, and advocates for women’s and children’s rights, FIDA ensures a more robust response to SGBV cases.
For instance, FIDA Nigeria has provided targeted training to groups like the Small-Scale Women Farmers Organization in Nigeria (SWOFON) on land access, land use, and inheritance rights. These trainings empower women to acquire land, achieve financial independence, and reduce economic violence.
In 2019, she also led the development of a Standard Operating Procedure for handling Gender-Based Violence cases at the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, creating structured guidelines that support a victim-centered, coordinated approach. Her ongoing workshops train diverse professionals, including law enforcement officers, legal practitioners, judiciary members, and court staff, in best practices for preventing and responding to Violence Against Women and Girls.
FIDA Nigeria has broadened its impact on the rights of women, children, and vulnerable groups through robust national and subnational initiatives. She has strengthened the capacity of civil society organizations to address critical issues, including human trafficking, sexual and gender-based violence, and child marriage.
Key outcomes of her work include heightened gender-responsive actions to prevent gender-based violence, the enactment of community byelaws across various communities, improved legal knowledge among criminal justice actors, and enhanced coordination among civil society organizations nationwide.
Additionally, FIDA Nigeria has implemented a targeted intervention to transform social norms that sustain violence against women and girls. By engaging religious and traditional leaders, women leaders, and youth, our community-led approach fosters a shift in social beliefs, promoting safer and more equitable environments for women and girls.
FIDA Nigeria’s efforts to establish a gender-sensitive and protective environment for women, girls, and vulnerable populations extend to advocacy for gender-responsive policies and budgeting by state actors. Notable early outcomes include increased budget allocations for gender-sensitive services in the 2024 Kogi State budget, stronger collaboration between civil society organizations and state institutions in policy tracking and implementation, improved awareness of gender-responsive service delivery among stakeholders, and the creation of a more inclusive, gender-mainstreamed environment among state actors.
In amplifying her survivor-centred approach, FIDA Nigeria has responded to the urgent need for a protective environment for women experiencing domestic abuse by establishing shelters at its national level and in some state branches. These shelters provide a secure, confidential refuge where survivors of domestic violence, particularly women, children and the vulnerable find immediate safety from abusive situations. Her initiative offers more than just physical protection as these safe homes have provided a holistic approach to support beneficiaries including access to counselling services, legal guidance, and resources.
Through partnerships with local health and social services, survivors receive medical care, emotional support, and pathways to socio-economic empowerment to help them reintegrate into society independently. This demonstrates FIDA Nigeria’s commitment to addressing the complex needs of domestic violence survivors by creating safe spaces that offer both immediate relief and a foundation for long-term recovery.
As part of FIDA Nigeria’s @ 60 celebrations, FIDA Nigeria has launched a 60 for 60 Outreach Program, a project that perfectly embodies her commitment to transforming lives. This initiative aims to empower women through cash grants and resources that will serve as a foundation for building sustainable livelihoods. FIDA Nigeria believes that by investing directly in women, she is also investing in stronger families and more resilient communities.
