Amnesty International Nigeria has trained 30 young people in Cross River State to become human rights defenders as part of efforts to strengthen civic space and improve awareness of rights at community level.
The organisation said the initiative is designed to build a network of trained advocates who can identify, document and respond to human rights violations while engaging relevant authorities to ensure accountability.
The two-day training, held in Calabar, was organised under the project titled *“Strengthening Human Rights Defenders to Protect Civic Space,”* with support from the German Embassy Fund.
Speaking during the programme, Amnesty International Nigeria’s Programmes Manager, Barbara Magaji, said the training aimed to equip young volunteers and social media influencers with practical skills to detect and report rights abuses within their communities.
She explained that participants were selected from Amnesty volunteers and digital influencers capable of reaching wider audiences both online and offline.
According to her, human rights violations often occur at community level, making grassroots awareness and response essential.
“These defenders will help raise awareness, support affected communities and hold institutions accountable when rights are violated,” she said.
Magaji noted that the initiative is a pilot programme being implemented in Cross River, Kano and Bauchi States, adding that participants had previously undergone virtual training before the physical workshop.
She added that the trainees would be expected to lead advocacy campaigns on issues such as freedom of expression, right to life, access to healthcare and other socio-economic rights in their communities.
She also expressed confidence that the participants would apply the knowledge gained effectively, referencing past collaborations with volunteers in Cross River on campaigns against mob violence and witchcraft-related killings.
One of the facilitators, Folahan Johnson, emphasised the importance of accurate data in addressing human rights violations.
He said meaningful advocacy and policy reforms depend on properly documented and verifiable evidence.
“You cannot address what you cannot measure. Data is essential in human rights work because it provides the evidence needed for action and policy decisions,” he said.
Johnson also highlighted the importance of credible sourcing, including eyewitness accounts, photographs and corroborated reports, in documenting abuses.
He criticised Nigeria’s weak data culture, arguing that poor data collection and analysis continue to affect governance and planning.
According to Amnesty International, the trained participants are expected to return to their communities to carry out advocacy initiatives, mobilise citizens and promote civic engagement.
The organisation added that the programme also focuses on building capacity in ethical documentation, digital and physical safety, and broader human rights advocacy across Nigeria.