Updated List of Human Right Organizations in Nigeria (2023)

A human rights group, or human rights organization, is a non-governmental organization with the sole aim of advocating for human rights through the identification of their violation. When these violations are identified, human rights organization collects incident data and its analysis and make them public awareness while conducting institutional advocacy and reaching out to those in power to get justice for the violation.

Concept of Human Rights

The concept of human rights is founded on the principle that all human beings are equal in dignity and rights and that they are entitled to these rights simply because they are human. Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that are inherent to all human beings, regardless of their nationality, race, gender, religion, or any other status. These rights are recognized and protected by international law, and they include civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights.

A set of values relating to justice and equality is known as human rights. They acknowledge our right to live as we choose and to reach our full potential as people. Human rights are “universal” in nature. Human rights are the fundamental liberties and rights that every person has in the world from the moment of their birth until the moment of their death.

These fundamental rights are founded on common ideals like independence, fairness, respect, decency, and equality. These principles are outlined and secured by legislation. These liberties are essential and unalienable. Human rights have been demonstrated to be necessary for every person to be able to live their lives to the utmost. The most distinctive quality of human rights is that they are challenging to define but unavoidable.

Human Rights Pledge

“I will respect your rights regardless of who you are. I will uphold your rights even when I disagree with you. When anyone’s human rights are denied, everyone’s rights are undermined, so I will STAND UP
I will raise my voice. I will take action. I will use my rights to stand up for your rights.”

Constitutional Backing of Human Rights

In Nigeria, human rights are fully protected under the current 1999 constitution and the Nigerian human rights act of 2010 as amended. On a daily basis, there are cases of violations which these groups try to handle and while the country has made major strides in the protection of the fundamental human rights of its citizens, there are some cases where the government failed in this regard.

An Amnesty International reports stated that the state failed in its responsibility to protect people from various abuses committed by Boko Haram and ISWAP as well as unknown gunmen. According to media reports, they killed at least 6,907 people, abducted 6,157, and forcibly transferred or internally displaced at least 2,000.

The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under Chapter IV enumerates the following as fundamental human rights:

• Right to life
• Right to dignity of human person
• Right to personal liberty
• Right to fair hearing
• Right to private and family life
• Right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion
• Right to freedom of expression and the press
• Right to peaceful assembly and association
• Right to freedom of movement
• Right to freedom from discrimination on the grounds of ethnic group, place of origin, circumstance of birth, sex, religion or political opinion.
• Right to compensation for property compulsory acquired.

National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria (NHRC)

The official government body that oversees the activities of human rights groups in Nigeria is known as the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria (NHRC). The Commission was established in 1995 with the backing of the United Nations General Assembly resolution that allows all member states to have independent National Institutions which promote, protect, and enforce the rights of the ordinary individual.

NHRC serves as an extra-judicial mechanism for the respect and enjoyment of human rights. It also provides avenues for public enlightenment, research, and dialogue in order to raise awareness of Human Rights issues.

The Commission is currently headed by a Chief Executive Officer who oversees the activities of the NHRC. They have offices in the 36 states you can visit if you feel that your rights are violated.

Full List of Human Rights Organisations in Nigeria (2023)

Here are the agencies that protect human rights in Nigeria that are duly registered this 2023:

• Federation Of International Female Lawyers
• Foundation For Environmental Rights, Advocacy And Development
• Centre For Democracy And Development
• The Human Rights Law Service
• Network On Police Reform In Nigeria
• Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center
• Childs Right Protective Initiative Right
• CLEEN Foundation
• LEDAP-Legal Defence And Assistance Project
• WACOL-Women’s Aid Collective
• CPD- Community Partners For Development
• PJ- Partnership For Justice
• WARDC-Women Advocacy Research And Documentation Centre
• Project Alert On Violence Against Women
• CACOL-Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders
• Niger Delta Budget Monitoring Group
• PEDANET-Persons With Disability Network
• PANAFSTRAG-Pan-African Strategic And Policy Research Group
• Seri-Socio Economic Rights Initiative
• AHIP-Adolescent Health And Information Project
• IHRHL-Institute Of Human Rights And Humanitarian Law
• PRAWA-Prisons Rehabilitation And Welfare Agency
• Citizens Center For Integrated Development And Social Rights (CCIDESOR)
• CIRDDOC-Civil Resource And Documentation Development Center
• BOCOPED-Borno Coalition
• HEDA Resource Center
• SERAP-Social Economic Rights Accountability Project
• Gender And Youth Rights Initiative (GYRI)
• Human Rights Monitor
• Network For Justice
• Connecting Gender
• WRAPA-Women’s Rights Advancement And Protection Alternative
• Advocates San Frontieres
• NHRC-National Human Rights Commission
• SGCA-Society For Gender And Child Advancement
• Ceddart
• RIBAC-Rights Based Awareness Coalition
• CR-Confluence Of Rights
• Kano Civil Society Forum
• Media Gandhi Alternative
• PLAC- Policy And Legal Advocacy Center
• ZCC- Zero Coruption Coalition
• MGA- Minority Gender Action
• DAG- Democratic Action Group
• JDPC-Justice, Development And Peace Commission
• NBA- Nigerian Bar Association
• CSLS-Centre For Socio-Legal Studies
• Centre For Human Rights In Islam
• Replace-Rights Enforcement And Public Law Center
• CRD- Center For Research And Development
• AJ-Access To Justice
• NNHRI-Wa- Network Of National Human Rights Institution
• HURSDEF-Human Rights Social Development Environmental Foundation
• JIWNAJ-Jigawa Women’s Network For Access To Justice
• Bra-Basic Rights Action
• OSJI- Open Society Justice Initiative
• WABA- West African Bar Association
• HDI- Human Development Initiative
• WYEI-Women And Youth Empowerment Initiative
• MRA-Media Rights Agenda
• GSAN- Gender And Social Action Network
• AA-Alliances For Africa
• ECOWA-Echoes Of Women In Africa Foundation
• Mission5000plus
• MCI-Media Concern Initiative
• YACC
• Muslim Youth Initiative
• NNNGO-Nigeria Network Of Ngo’s
• Rsn-
• NCICC- Nigerian Coalition For The International Criminalcourt
• WDC-Women Development Center
• WCN-Women’s Consortium Of Nigeria
• Center For Women’s Health And Information
• AHI- Action Health Incorporated
• Baobab For Women Human Rights
• LRRDC-Legal Research And Resource Development Center
• LDC-Legal Defence Center
• GREIN-Grassroots Empowerment Initiative
• Human Rights Centre
• Centre For Peace Building And Socio-Economic Resources Development
• The Independent Project
• CEPSERD-Centre For Peace Building & Socio-Economic Resources Development
• CSO- Coalition Against Sexual Offence
• Lawyers Alert
• GR-Global Rights
• National Committee On Torture
• Catholic Institute For Development, Justice And Peace (CIDJAP)
• GADA-Gender And Development Action
• West Africa Network For Peace Building Nigeria (WANEP )
• HEDA Resource Center
• WANGONET- The West African Ngo Network
• Women Law & Development Centre
• NOPRIN Foundation
• Legal Resource Consortium
• SERAC- Social Economic Rights Action
• Human And Environmental Development Agenda
• Foundation For Environmental Rights, Advocacy And Development (FENRAD)
• Replinglin And Associates
• Vision Spring Initiatives
• Prison Inmate Development Initiative
• Global Community Prime Initiative
• Centre For The Advocacy Of Justice And Rights
• Human Rights And Community Development Initiative
• Center For Community Excellence (CENCEX)
• Coalition Of Budget Transparency Advocates In Kano (COBTAK).
• Community Outreach For Development And Welfare Advocacy
• Bauchi Human Right Network
• Organization For The Sustenance Of The Nigerian Environment (OFSNE)
• Grassroots Economic Empowerment And Educational Development
• Rural Integrated Development Initiative
• Nawoj/Coalition For Human Rights Actors
• (CEDDA) Centrum Initiative For Development And Fundamental Rights Advocacy
• Concern For Women Development Initiative (COWODI)
• Health Education And Environmental Protection Alliance (HEEPA)
• Life Helpers Initiative
• Carmelite Prisoners’ Interest Organization (CAPIO)
• Global Community Prime Initiative
• Women’s Initiative For Self-Actualization
• Legend Youth Association
• Imenem Multi Purpose Cooperative Society
• Little Hearts Of Praise Initiative
• Partners For Peace
• WASIF
• Center For Agric & Rural Development (CARD)
• Humanitarian League
• Women Development Initiative
• Applicant Welfare And Development Centre
• Dynamic Youth Development Organization
• Civil Liberty Organization
• Divine Helpers Organization Of Nigeria
• Health And Development Initiative
• Women Economic Linkages Organizations Of Nigeria
• Fa International Women Association
• Widows And Orphans Development Organization
• Women And Community Livelihood Foundation
• Human Right Commission
• African Human Development Center
• Heal The Land Initiative
• Fast Lane Women Network
• Peace, Knowledge, Growth & Love Foundation (PEKGLOF)
• Rural Health & Women Development.
• Ac-Net
• Women United For Economic Empowerment
• Oluwafolakemi Washington Help Foundation (OWHF)
• Community Health Advancement And Fund Empowerment Centre
• Humanity Family Foundation For Peace And Development (HUFFPED)
• Life Builder Initiative (LBI)
• Foundation For Sustainable Health Promotion And Development (FOSHPAD)
• Centre For Advocacy, Rehabilitation And Empowerment
• Centre For Better Health And Community Development
• Centre For Education, Women Development And Population Family Life Activities (CEWAP)
• CISHAN
• Akinwumi Plus Ojo Foundation (APOF)
• Development Empowerment Initiative
• Triumphant Health And Development Initiative (THADI)
• Society For Women And Aids In Africa Nigeria (SWAAN)
• Balm In Gilead Foundation (BIGIF)
• War Against Child, Sexual And Physical Abuse Society (WACSPA)
• Mercy Trust Foundation (MTF)
• (WCDHRI) Women And Children Development Health Research Initiative
• Tydas Nigeria Limited Ado
• New Initiative For Social Development (NISD)
• Global Network For Community Development (GNCD)
• Life And Peace Development Organization (LAPDO)
• Bethel
• Ministry Of Women Affairs, Ado-Ekiti
• Gender Relevance Initiative Promotion (GRIP)
• Adenike Obatayo Hope Foundation (ADOHF)
• Citizen Advocacy Group
• Michael Adedotun Oke Foundation
• Committee For Democracy And Rights Of The People
• Lokiaka Community Development Centre
• Climate And Environmental Development Initiative
• Centre For Community And Human Development
• Legal Resources Consortium (LRC)
• Girls Power Initiative (GPI)
• Onyenweife Paul Jideofor (Individual Member)
• Women Of Vision Development Initiative
• Center For Voters Awareness (CVA)
• United Youth For Development (UYD)
• The Socialist League (TSL)
• Youth Alliance Against Corruption (YAAC)
• National Women’s Alliance Against Corruption (NWAAC)
• Sharing Heart International (SHI)
• World Youth For Change Initiative (WYCI)
• D-Sky Development Initiatives
• Egalitarianism Development Initiatives
• Centre For Sustained Dialogue
• United Alliance Against Child Abuse
• Federation Of Muslim Women Association Of Nigeria (FOMWAN)
• Community Building Development Initiative (CBDI)
• Congress For Justice And People Rights (CJPR)
• Movement For Electoral Integrity (MEI)
• Conscious Citizens Initiative
• Yusrulahi Association
• Sisters Against Violence Initiatives (SAVI)
• Violence Defenders
• Community Development Group
• Society For Rights And Human Development
• Centre For Ethics Democracy And Development (CEDAD)
• Alexander Foundation
• Home Makers Women Development Initiative
• International Centre For Peace, Charity And Human Development (INTERCEP)
• Community Action For Popular Participation (CAPP)
• Community Based Development Non-Governmental Organization Forum
• Country Women Association Of Nigeria (COWAN)
• League For Human Rights
• Centre For Peace Advancement In Nigeria
• Persons With Disability (PWD)
• Ocean Center
• Displaced Women And Children Foundation (DWCF)
• Voice Of The Girl Child
• Centre For The Economic Empowerment For Women And Youth
• Inter-Gender
• Christian Women For Excellence And Empowerment In Nigeria Society (CWEENS)
• Human Rights Activist
• Coalition Of Human Rights Activists
• Community Environment Development Network
• Harry Wofasi Women For Family Stability Initiative
• Abua-Odual Kupe Foundation
• Movement For The Survival Of The Ogoni People
• Niger Delta Coalition
• Rivers Youth Coalition Vanguard (RYCV)
• Kebelkache Women
• Social Action
• Macwelff Maternal And Child Wellbeing Foundation
• Women Initiative For Transparency And Social Justice (WITSOJ)
• Center For Women And Vulnerable Children
• Doing Democracy Movement
• Niger Delta Civil Society Coalition
• Niger Delta Youth For Development And Positive Change
• Women Information Network (WINET)
• Divine Favour Foundation Initiative
• Eddy Ukoha Associates
• Centre For The Advancement Of Literacy And Leadership (CALL)
• New Era Development Education Centre (NEDEC)
• Clo/Inter-Solidarity
• New Innovation In Development Education For A Healthy Living Society (NEWIDEAHL)
• International Centre For Development And Budget Advocacy (ICBD)
• CRUDAN
• Social Watch, Nigeria
• Truth Is Life Care Giver
• Civil Resource Development And Documentation Centre
• Youth Education And Human Rights And Civil Responsibility (YEHRCR)
• International Federation Of Women Lawyers
• New Life Community Care Initiative (NELCCI)
• Youth Resource Education And Leadership Center 4 Africa (YORDEL)
• Divine Favour Foundation (DFF)
• Green Pastures Charity Centre (GREPAC)
• Human Rights And Youth Education On Human Right And Civil Responsibilities
• Alliances For Africa
• Safe Habitat
• Women’s Rights Advancement (WERA)
• Centre For Citizens With Disabilities
• Gender Consultant
• Channel Of Hope Initiative
• Women Of Virtue Network
• Center For Modu
• Women, Widows And Orphans
• Society Impact Initiative
• T/Fulani Associate
• Network For Empowerment And Development Initiative
• Democracy Action Group (Dag)
• Women Advancement Network
• Al-Usra Kano Initiative
• Danmarke Youth Development Association
• Right Based Awareness Coalition
• Youth Empowerment And Health Development Initiative
• Youth Stakeholders Forum
• Taurariya Association
• Ophanned Youth For Development
• Green Flog For Youth Development
• Access For Prisoners Rights
• Society For Youth Development And Orphaned Children
• Play Safe Foundation
• Child Protection Network
• Centre For Care Of The Vulnerable And Development (Ccvo)
• Wellbeing Foundation
• Women And Youth Development Initiative
• Step To Life
• Woman Kind Family Enhancement Initiative
• Millennium Resource And Consultancy Services
• Joliweb Home Foundation
• Association For Democratic Citizen
• Olive Community Development Initiative
• Civil Rights Initiative
• Adolescent Support Organization (ASO)
• Total Fidelity Movement For Relief Services
• Development Action For Humanity (DAH)
• Organization For The Sustenance Of The Nigeria Environment (OSNE)
• Initiative For Development
• Grassroot Action For Development
• Community Action Project
• Centre For Grassroot Development
• Centre For Development And Civil Education
• Crown Women Network
• We Care Foundation
• Community Development Information Centre
• Women In Peace Education And Community
• Health Global Organization
• Widows Development Trust
• Nigerian Association Of Women Journalist (NAWOJ)
• Udo Women Organization
• Favoured Women Association
• Kal Foundation For Youth Transformation
• Community Delightment Organization
• Sava The Society Initiative (Sasi)
• Community Development Initiative (CDI)
• Adolescent Health Center (AHC)
• Community Enlightenment And Development Initiative
• Kotorkoshi Emirate Development Initiative
• Save Mothers And Children Initiative Zamfara
• Community Development Forum
• Youth Initiative For Peace And Development
• Community Advancement Project
• Millennium Development Center Gusau Zamfara State
• Fulani Initiative For The Protection Of Environment And Less Privileged.
• Humanity Development And Peace initiative (HUDPI)
• Women In Education
• Support Development Association (SDA) Zamfara State
• Community Center For Women And Children Development (CCWCD)
• Voluntary Aid (VAI) Initiative
• Youth And Women Empowerment Initiative (YAWEI)
• Future Hope Foundation
• Hunnun Taimako Foundation
• Zamfara Youth Platform
• Green Fountain Foundation (G-FOF) Shinkafi
• Advocate For Gender Equality Prison Services
• Greenspring Development Initiative
• Cyndy Orji Foundation
• Total Support For The Rule Of Law & Justice Initiative
• Advocacy For Self Rehabilitation Initiative
• Anma Development Foundation
• Critical Response For Universal Xpression (CRUX)
• Devatop Centre for Africa Development
• Sexual Offence And Rehabilitation Initiative
• National Human Rights Commission

Partners of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)

• The following are some of international and domestic partners of the NHRC

• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

• Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA)

• United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

• United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

• Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation