SOME RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS
2003
In February, CHRRD's Public
Complaints and Conflict Resolution Panel successfully resolved three
disputes brought forward to it by members of the public, via a combination of
advocacy modalities, including letter-writing, on-site visits, face-to-face negotiation and
acting as an intermediary for child welfare payments. From the date of
their first presentation to CHRRD, the cases were resolved over periods ranging
from three weeks to three and one-half years, and concerned matters of shop land
disputes between market traders, landlord-tenant disputes and child support.
In May, CHRRD assisted the Aboluyo
Women's Cassava Processing Cooperative in upgrading their grating machine,
through a CHRRD grant from CUSO and the Saskatchewan Council for International
Cooperation.
2001
Mrs. Banke Onoak’s case of gender discrimination and employment
denial, first presented to CHRRD in May 2000, was successfully resolved with her
hiring by the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals, as reported in the Nigerian
Tribune, 23 November 2001, following a letter-writing and media campaign
initiated by CHRRD.
Cpl.
Bashiru Olanrewaju's case of wrongful dismissal by the
Commissioner of Police, Oyo State, which was first presented to CHRRD in
September 1999, was successfully resolved in September 2001, following a
letter-writing campaign by CHRRD. Cpl. Olanrewaju was discharged from his
duties in 1989 following the death of a van driver during a police
chase. The dismissal occurred prior to the decision from the Oyo State
High Court of Justice in 1991 that acquitted Olanrewaju of any
wrongdoing. Until 2001, Olanrewaju was forced to resort to work as a sand
digger to feed his family, because the Commissioner of Police failed to
recognise the court's decision. As a result of CHRRD's intervention, Cpl
Olanrewaju was fully reinstated in his former position, and was awarded full
entitlements for the period of his dismissal.
2000
- 2001
CHRRD produced an educational film, Up National, and presented it
at workshops with the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to
address the use of violence in resolving leadership successions. Since these
workshops, succession related violent conflict within the union has been
significantly reduced and largely supplanted by democratic, peaceful succession
practices.
1999
CHRRD pioneered the first weekly human rights radio programme, on
Oyo State’s B.C.O.S. station, to raise awareness about civil and legal rights,
and promote peaceful conflict resolution.
1997
CHRRD partnered with the women’s cooperative, Abuloyo Cassava Processing
Centre, Ibadan, helping to obtain funding for a grinding machine and
accessories, as well as iron-roofed and concrete-floored sheds. Members of the
cooperative participated with nine other civil society groups in a CHRRD-organised
three-day “Train the Trainer of Human Rights” workshop,
November 1997. As of 2002, the cooperative employs over one hundred women in the
production and sale of gari foodstuffs.
1996
Executive Director, Mashood Erubami, was elected to the prestigious Ashoka
Fellowship (USA) in recognition of his human rights work with CHRRD.
