DRUG LAW & ORGANIZED CRIMES
UNITED NATIONS (UN) COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE (CAT) ADVOCACY ON TORTURE AND ILL-TREATMENT IN CONNECTION TO DRUG POLICIES IN NIGERIA PROJECT
(2021-2022)
About the Project: 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.


The aim and objectives of the event are: To make public presentation and launch of the Torture and Drug Policies in Nigeria Research Report; To publish and disseminate copies of the Research Report among the policymakers and stakeholders; To carry out public awareness and sensitization of the policymakers and stakeholders on the Research Report and various physical and mental violence faced by people who use drugs in Nigeria; To promote the protection of human rights, justice and accountability issues related to current drug law and policies in Nigeria; and To promote effective stakeholders engagement and advocacy for drug law and policy reform in Nigeria.
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 million 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.
2021 GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION AND SUPPORT DO NOT PUNISH CAMPAIGN PROGRAMME
About the Campaign Programme: AFRILAW continued its promotion of drug law and policy reform in Nigeria through the Global Day of Action and Support Do not Punish Campaign Programme.
In 2021, AFRILAW in partnership with the West Africa Drug Policy Network (WADPN) organized the Nigeria Drug Policy Media Forum. The objective of the Forum was to educate and sensitize the selected government and private media personnel on key and relevant global and Nigeria drug policy issues and the role of the media in promoting drug policy reform in Nigeria. At the program also participants were introduced to the model law especially its provisions for alternative to incarceration. The program held on the 3rd of July 2021 and saw the participation of various media groups, civil society organizations and their various networks.
2020 GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION AND SUPPORT DO NOT PUNISH CAMPAIGN PROGRAMME

UNITED NATIONS (UN) COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE (CAT) ADVOCACY ON TORTURE AND ILL-TREATMENT IN CONNECTION TO DRUG POLICIES IN NIGERIA PROJECT
(2021-2022)
About the Project: 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.


The aim and objectives of the event are: To make public presentation and launch of the Torture and Drug Policies in Nigeria Research Report; To publish and disseminate copies of the Research Report among the policymakers and stakeholders; To carry out public awareness and sensitization of the policymakers and stakeholders on the Research Report and various physical and mental violence faced by people who use drugs in Nigeria; To promote the protection of human rights, justice and accountability issues related to current drug law and policies in Nigeria; and To promote effective stakeholders engagement and advocacy for drug law and policy reform in Nigeria.
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 million 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.
2021 GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION AND SUPPORT DO NOT PUNISH CAMPAIGN PROGRAMME
About the Campaign Programme: AFRILAW continued its promotion of drug law and policy reform in Nigeria through the Global Day of Action and Support Do not Punish Campaign Programme.
In 2021, AFRILAW in partnership with the West Africa Drug Policy Network (WADPN) organized the Nigeria Drug Policy Media Forum. The objective of the Forum was to educate and sensitize the selected government and private media personnel on key and relevant global and Nigeria drug policy issues and the role of the media in promoting drug policy reform in Nigeria. At the program also participants were introduced to the model law especially its provisions for alternative to incarceration. The program held on the 3rd of July 2021 and saw the participation of various media groups, civil society organizations and their various networks.
2020 GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION AND SUPPORT DO NOT PUNISH CAMPAIGN PROGRAMME



