The Centre for Human Rights and Social Advancement is a non-profit, non-governmental and non-partisan human rights organization founded in December 2016 and registered with the Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in March 2017. The Centre is working towards the promotion of human rights, democracy, good governance and peace & security in Nigeria. It has its headquarters in Kano – Nigeria, with branch offices in Sokoto and Jigawa States.

Vision:

A society where human rights are held in high esteem, respected, promoted and guaranteed by all stakeholders.

Mission:

CEFSAN is committed to the advancement of human rights, social justice, rule of law, sustainable peace and democratic development in Nigeria.

Recent Activities:

• CEFSAN with support from the Peace Direct, UK has implemented a project on Mitigating Ethno-religious Violence through Strengthening the Capacity of Youth Leaders in Kano State (March 2020-January,2021).
• CEFSAN with support from the Nexus Fund Washington D.C has conducted a project on “Prevention of Violence and Mass Atrocities in the 2019 General Election in Kano State – Nigeria” (July – December, 2018).
• CEFSAN in partnership with Y. S. Yankuzo & Co. (Humanitarian Chambers) have intervened in over 120 human rights cases ranging from unlawful arrest and detention to human rights abuses by security operatives, sexual and gender based violence, rape etc. (March 2017-Date).
• It has formed over 11 Human Rights/Peace Clubs in some universities and other tertiary institutions in Northern Nigeria.
• It has trained over 300 members of Community Based Organizations (CBOs) on Peacebuilding and Human Rights in Kano, Sokoto and Jigawa States.
• The Centre has been providing free legal aid to indigent people in Kano, Sokoto and Jigawa States who cannot afford the services of legal representation in court.
• The Centre is engaged in human rights and peace campaign through social media (facebook, twitter, instagram, linkedin etc).

Impact:

• More than 2,000 community members (majority of whom were youth) were sensitized on the importance of religious tolerance and peaceful-coexistence and the negative effect of ethno-religious violence in Kano State. This is evident through the number of contributions and comments made by hundreds of listeners during our weekly Radio Talk Show.
• There was commitment by the traditional and religious leader to continue to promote peaceful co-existence among their subjects and followers in Kano State.
• More than 250 youth leaders were equipped with requisite knowledge of early warnings, conflict mitigation and prevention in Kano State.
• A Network of Peace Ambassadors comprising of committed youth leaders was formed in the 3 most violent Local Government Areas in Kano State. These Local Government Areas are: Nassarawa, Fagge and Kano Municipal.
• Pre-election and post-election violence has reduced appreciably in Kano State due to our interventions.

Existing Partners:

• Amnesty International, Nigeria
• United Action for Democracy (UAD)
• Transition Monitoring Group (TMG)
• Civil Liberties Organization (CLO)
• Socialist Democratic Movement (DSM)
• Publish What You Pay (PWYP)
• Alliance for Credible Election (ACE)
• Zero Corruption Coalition (ZCC)
• VSO International, Nigeria
• Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)
• National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP)
• Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
• CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
• Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD)
• Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ)
• Innovation for Change, Afrique (I4C)
• Human Rights Agenda Network (HRAN)
• The Nexus Fund
• West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI)
• Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI)
• Peace Direct etc.