DRUGS LAW & POLICY REFORM
THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG OFFENCES IN NIGERIA PROJECT (2024-2025)
The Campaign against Death Penalty for Drug Offences in Nigeria Programme was launched by African Law Foundation (AFRILAW) in partnership with the West African Drug Policy Network (WADPN) Nigeria Chapter, Nigeria Death Penalty Group (NDPG) and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and with funding support from the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) UK under its Support Don’t Punish 2024-2025 Initiatives Programme. The aim of the Campaign is to initiate national advocacy actions toward the abolition and removal of the recently approved and introduced death penalty as a punishment for drug offences in the Nigeria drug law. The Campaign was launched under The Support. Don’t punish initiative, a global grassroots-centred initiative in support of harm reduction and drug policies that prioritize public health and human rights. The campaign sought to put harm reduction on the political agenda by strengthening the mobilization capacity of affected communities and their allies, opening dialogue with policy makers, and changing hearts and minds through engagement with the media and the public. Over the past years, the campaign has provided a common banner under which local partners across the world can advance their own advocacy and messages. The campaign includes an ever-growing Photo Project and a Global Day of Action. In 2019, the campaign launched its first Initiatives Programme to support work plans that build momentum around and following the Global Day of Action. This fourth edition builds on these experiences and knowledge.
PROJECT ACTIVITIES:
- 1-DAY MEDIA/CSO WORLD PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG OFFENSES IN NIGERIA TO MARK THE WORLD DAY AGAINST DEATH PENALTY HELD ON THURSDAY OCTOBER, 24, 2024 AT PARKVIEW HOTEL:
The world press conference was the official launching of the Campaign against the Death Penalty for Drug Offences in Nigeria and had a variety of online and print media houses from across the country. The Executive Director AFRILAW led the media briefing by talking about the threats the addition of death penalty poses for the Nigeria populace and the demands the CSOs such as DHRAN, FIDA, ASF France, YouthRISE NG etc who make up the membership of the death penalty campaign group were making which included the immediate removal of the death penalty and had a total thirty five (35) media and civil society organizations in attendance.
PICTURES:
Media links of the launched campaign
ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG OFFENCES,GROUP ASKS FG
*https://youtu.be/W1UEeZsq7LM?si=Q0NNrFt8MCpIiQCq*
ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG OFFENCES,GROUP ASKS FG
*https://youtu.be/lSxVEVfkJ8o?si=paW0A6s5lGJaw0H1* https://blueprint.ng/repeal-death-penalty-for-drug-offences-csos-tell-fg-states/ https://nationalperiscope.com/2024/10/24/groups-caution-tinubu-against-signing-death-penalty-for-drug-offences-into-law/
Preview YouTube video NIGERIA LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG OFFENSES
ACTIVITY 2
THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION:
The Executive Director of African Law Foundation (AFRILAW) led the delegation of eight (8) Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on the 12th of November, 2024 on a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission as part of the key activities in the Campaign against Death Penalty for Drug Offenses in Nigeria. It was geared towards getting government institutions onboard to work together in achieving this goal.
ACTIVITY 2
- THE NIGERIA DRUG LAW AND POLICY REFORM SUMMIT ON THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG OFFENSES IN NIGERIA TO MARK THE 2025 GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION AND 2025 WORLD DRUG DAY HELD ON TUESDAY JULY,8, 2025 AT NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION:
The Nigeria drug law and policy reform Summit was part of the key activities of the Campaign against Death Penalty for Drug Offences in Nigeria. It was a forum for multi-stakeholders of the Federal Government to discuss and review the existing drug policies in the society and move to a people-centred and public health advocacy with harm reduction and human rights perspective.
The Summit was organized by the members of the Campaign against Death Penalty for Drug Offences in Nigeria in partnership with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The Campaign was coordinated by African Law Foundation (AFRILAW), Abuja in partnership with the West African Drug Policy Network (WADPN) Nigeria Chapter, Avocats Sans Frontiers (ASF) France/Lawyers Without Boarders, YouthRISE Nigeria, Drug Harm Reduction Advocacy Network (DHRAN) and International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, and with funding support from the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) UK under its Support Don’t Punish 2024-2025 Initiatives Programme and YouthRISE Nigeria. The Summit is also being organized in commemoration of the 2025 World Drug Day and 2025 Support. Don’t Punish Global Day of Action (26 June 2025).
Members of the high table led by the ES/Chairman NHRC
Media links to the Summit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzGlp10BtQU
Key Achievements:
- The Published media reports and articles for the removal of the death penalty for drug offences
- The amendment and removal of the death penalty in November 2024
- Key and relevant stakeholders engaged and sensitized on the need to move to a public health and people centred drug law and policies in Nigeria
- Engagement with key government Ministries, Departments and Agencies on the need to have harm reduction in drug control in Nigeria.
- Key and relevant stakeholders made recommendations on the drug law and policy reform needed to tackle the issue of drug use in Nigeria.
UNITED NATIONS (UN) COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE (CAT) ADVOCACY ON TORTURE AND ILL-TREATMENT IN CONNECTION TO DRUG POLICIES IN NIGERIA. (2021 TO 2022)
In 2021, African Law Foundation (AFRILAW) with support and partnership with International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) UK implemented The Torture and Drug Policies in Nigeria Research Project with a goal to gather evidence on torture and ill-treatment in connection to drug policies in Nigeria, through desk research and through consultation/interviews with affected communities; and engage with the UN Committee Against Torture so that it provides recommendations to Nigeria for the reform of laws that place people who use drugs or are engaged in drug activities at risk of torture and ill-treatment (i.e. abuses against people who use drugs, closer regulation and oversight of rehabilitation centres).
The research report presents evidence on the physical and mental violence faced by people who use drugs in Nigeria. The information included in the report has been collected through a mixed methods approach that incorporates desk research, interviews, and a survey of 79 people who use drugs and other stakeholders in the Nigerian states of Abia, Abuja/FCT, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, and Kaduna, conducted throughout September 2021.
In October 2021, African Law Foundation (AFRILAW) and International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) submitted to the UN Committee Against Torture a “Shadow Report on Torture and Drug Policies developed from the Torture and Drug Policies in Nigeria Research Project Research Draft Report. The Shadow report was submitted in collaboration and support of the YouthRISE Nigeria, West Africa Drug Policy Network (WADPN) Nigeria, Drug Harm Reduction Advocacy Network (DHRAN), Bensether Development Foundation, Centre for Research and Information on Substance Abuse (CRISA), Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN) Foundation and Human Rights Agenda Network (HRAN).
In November 2021, Nigeria´s compliance with the UN Convention Against Torture was reviewed by the UN Committee Against Torture (UNCAT), and AFRILAW on behalf of other CSOs who endorsed the Shadow Report made a presentation on key research findings to the UNCAT during the NGO Briefing Session on November 15, 2021.
In December 2021, the UN Committee Against Torture published their recommendations on Nigeria with some direct acknowledgements of our submission, and recommendations that could be useful in future advocacy with Nigerian institutions.
In this regard, it is imperative to organized the Public Presentation and Launch Event in other to create public awareness, and sensitized the policymakers and stakeholders on the Research Report and the various physical and mental violence faced by people who use drugs in Nigeria and to bring to the front burner the human rights situations, justice and accountability issues related to current drug law and policies in Nigeria and advocate for their reform.
Project Activity
- Public Presentation/Launching Of the Briefing Paper on Torture and Ill-Treatment against People Who Use Drugs In Nigeria on April 2022:
Key Project Results & Achievements:
- At least 20 policymakers including Parliamentarians and 30 CSOs were engaged, informed and sensitized on the Research Report and various physical and mental violence faced by people who use drugs in Nigeria by the published research report;
- At least 1 miliion citizens and the general public were sensitized and aware of the Research Report and various physical and mental violence faced by people who use drugs in Nigeria by the published research through the event and various media reports;
- About 500 copies of the Research Reports were published and disseminated among the policymakers and stakeholders;
- Increased public awareness and highlights of various physical and mental violence faced by people who use drugs in Nigeria; and
- Increased advocacy engagement with key policymakers including Parliamentarians and stakeholders for improved and effective drug law and policy reform in Nigeria.
We produce research in order to raise awareness and drive community engagement and development.
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