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Nigeria

PEACE AND ANTI-VIOLENCE EDUCATION (PAVE)
One of the program runned by Women's Centre for Peace and Development (WOPED)

This project focuses on the elimination of all forms of violence against women and the prevention and management of violent conflicts and civil strife. This program is made up of three main activity areas:
(a) PAVE Clubs in Schools: This aspect of the program is concerned with the socio-economic and political issues affecting the human rights of women, children and youths. Focus is on raising a new crop of young boys and girls as advocates of a culture of peace, non-violence and respect for human rights.
(b) Peace building and Conflict Resolution through community training programs, mediation, information dissemination, and group dialogue.
For more information:
Email: woped@infoweb.abs.net
Email: Tessaku@yahoo.com

Campaign for Amina Lawal
Source: [sos sexisme] SEXISME et DROITS des FEMMES, website: http://www.sos-sexisme.org

English summary:
In Nigeria, Amina Lawal, 30 years old, muslim, was condemned to death for having a child as a divorced woman. The man she designated as the father of the child denied ever having sexual relations with her. No legal claims were brought against him. In Amina's case, she did not have a lawyer for her defense. She was condemned by a tribunal constituted of one judge. Thanks to the mobilisation and support of women's and human rights organisations in Nigeria and abroad, a lawyer intervened on her behalf.

Au Nigéria, vous le savez sans doute, Amina Lawal, 30 ans, musulmane, a été condamnée à mort par lapidation pour avoir eu un enfant alors qu'elle était divorcée. Elle habite à Bakori dans l'état de Katsina, un des 12 états du nord du Nigéria à appliquer la loi sur base de la Charia. L'homme qu'elle a désigné comme étant le père de sa petite fille a nié avoir eu des relations sexuelles avec Amina. Aucune poursuite n'a donc été retenue contre lui. En première instance, Amina n'a pas eu d'avocat pour la défendre et c'est un tribunal constitué d'un juge unique qui l'a condamnée. Ceci est contraire aux normes internationales. Grâce à la mobilisation et au soutien de nombreuses associations féminines et de défense des droits humains au Nigéria et ailleurs, Amina s'est vue attribué un avocat et a interjeté appel.

Ecrire / Send an e-mail to : His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Republic, The
Presidency, Federal Secretariat, Phase II, Shehu Shagari Way, Abuja; NIGERIA
Fax: 234 9 523 21 36 (press office)
Email: president.obasanjo@nigeriagov.org

I am deeply concerned about the pernicious effects on human beings and on their rights of the introduction of the new Shari'ah based Penal Codes in Northern Nigeria. These new codes establish the death penalty for crimes such as adultery and introduce cruel, inhuman and degrading punishments such as flogging and amputation. All these punishments are in breach of international human rights instruments signed and ratified by your Government, for that reason, I kindly call on your Government to take all necessary measures to secure respect for the rule of law in every part of Nigeria which includes respect for the prohibition on torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment, such as the practice of corporal punishment. The Nigerian government should also make death penalty a thing of the past. The government of Nigeria must also ensure that no-one is discriminated against before the law on grounds of his or her religion, sex or social status. I also call on the Federal Government of the Republic of Nigeria to ensure that Amina Lawal, who was sentenced to death by stoning for adultery in Bakori, Katsina State, is not executed under any circumstance. Amina has also right to a fair trial, including theright of appeal.