It’s Human Rights Day! We commemorate the uniqueness of being born free and equal in dignity and rights. It allows us to highlight the discrimination and stigmatization that women, youth, and children still face in society.
government and society have a crucial role to play, which is to imbibe a human rights approach that includes equality, inclusion, and non-discrimination.
This will lead to a better and more stable environment where there are:
- Equal opportunities for youth.
- Women Empowerment is prioritized
- Better Access to healthcare
South Saharan Social Development Organization, SSDO, plays her part to advocate for human rights across all of our projects:
Sister Guardian Initiative
The Sister Guardian Initiative focuses on advocating for the rights of violated and abused women. It also promotes women’s rights through empowerment, political inclusion, and equality. Each chapter taps into existing women-based community groups to identify women willing to intercede and support other
women facing diverse forms of abuse. Here’s part of the wins:
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The project has handled 139 cases.
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Six women are part of the traditional ruling councils across six communities where SGI chapters are present.
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Introduction of by-laws criminalizing VAW in 4 communities with SGI chapters.
We understand that women are often reluctant to leave abusive relationships because of poor financial capability and dependence on the abusive partner. Hence the need to create Jacob’s Well Micro-credit scheme. A scheme to provide soft loans to victims of VAW within communities with functional SGI chapters to support them.
Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Project
The OVC project advocates for the right of children, especially those affected by HIV. This demographic is often stigmatized and marginalized in communities. The project provides support and treatment. Ensuring children are healthy, safe, and in school. Thus, increasing access to healthcare and other basic amenities.
The Awakening
The Awakening is a youth-focused civic enlightenment program that improves people’s knowledge about their rights and responsibilities. The aim is to reduce
political inclusion for women.
The project has successfully achieved the above through radio campaigns, advocacies, town hall meetings, capacity-building workshops, and rallies. Most notable is the direct action campaign to repeal the Enugu Gubernatorial
Pensions Bill.
Starting with social media, we could galvanize equally aggrieved youths and organize a peaceful protest to the state house of Assembly, where we had an audience with the Speaker of the house. And the house eventually dropped the bill. The government runs on the tax paid by the people, and it is the right of the citizens to see that these funds are well spent.
WASH Projects
It is the people’s right to access basic amenities such as water. Water crisis has always plagued Enugu seasonally. A viable solution to cushion this effect was contained in the water bill that had been on the floor of the house since 2019.
After a series of meetings and the strategic partnership with WaterAid Nigeria, the water bill became law. Further cementing the rights of citizens to basic amenities, freedom of expression, and equity before the law.
We’ve conducted several assessments to determine the state’s Water
Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) needs. Poor access to water and sanitation remains a contributing factor to morbidity and mortality rate among children under five years.
The lack of potable water and poor sanitary conditions increase vulnerability to water-borne diseases. Through the Heineken Africa Foundation (HAFII) Covid 19 Response Project and Latter-Day Saints Charity Project, the state is on course to achieving Open Defecation Free Status by 2025 and ultimately enhancing the right to a healthy environment.
With your help, we can achieve more by helping people become free and equal in rights. For more info on how to be a part of this, reach us at
info@southsaharan.org.
All Human, All Equal.
