Citizens' Gavel

AWJAI AWJAI Org in partnership with the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC), Hope Behind Bars Africa, and Citizens' Gavel , visited the Karu Area Command in line with Section 31 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA). The visit was led by Haruna A. Haruna of the Magistrate Court in Karu. At AWJAI, we are committed to upholding the rule of law and protecting human rights as we work tirelessly to ensure a fair and just criminal justice system for all.

Today, DAY 4 of #16DaysOfActivism Against Gender-Based Violence, our focus is on the psychological phenomenon known as trauma bonding. Over our seven years of providing pro bono services to indigent persons, including victims of OGBV, we've witnessed a pattern of victims returning to their abusers, even after experiencing profound physical, emotional, and psychological abuse. Factors such as shame, helplessness, and, in some cases, fear of being blamed if they leave the abusive relationship or report the abuser contribute to this counterintuitive behavior, especially in this part of the world. In these cases, it is crucial not to judge. Instead, we must continue providing support in the form of counseling until they are ready to seek legal aid. This approach will not only help victims heal but also encourage others to open up and seek justice. #16DaysOfActivism2024 #EndViolenceAgainstWomen #OrangeTheWorld

Happy Birthday to Alabi Nicholas, our Marketing executive, videographer, content creator, UI/UX Designer, and tech support officer. Talk about the ultimate utility staff! 😎 All of us at Citizens' Gavel appreciate your dutifulness and wish you a year filled with many great achievements. Cheers! 🎉🥳

Today, on DAY 3 of the #16DaysOfActivism against violence, we are spotlighting the harm of victim-blaming, an age-old toxic norm influenced by cultural, social, religious, and media stereotypes. This behaviour has been so ingrained in our society that, in discussions around sexual assault, domestic violence, or cyberbullying affecting women and girls, it is more likely to find comments questioning the victim's actions, appearance, or location than comments condemning the actual perpetrator. Those who are quick to victim-blame must understand that such comments do not only embolden perpetrators but also deepen the victim's trauma, ultimately discouraging other victims of gender violence from reporting similar cases or pursuing justice. As a people, we must change this toxic narrative. This starts by dispelling the stereotypes that suggest the victim is partly to blame. As digital citizens, we must make the internet a safe space and offer the highest level of sensitivity and empathy to victims of violence and abuse. We join voices with the United Nations, UN Women, CSOs and the global community in this quest for a safer world for women and girls. #16days #EndViolenceAgainstWomen #OrangeTheWorld

Hearty cheers to our exceptional Programs Lead, ‘Folarin Ariyo, on the occasion of his birthday! 🎉🥳 All of us at Citizens' Gavel appreciate your exemplary leadership, infectious positivity, and commitment to excellence. Mr. T, we wish you a year filled with prosperity, success and everything that makes you smile!🎈

Today marks DAY 2 of the #16DaysOfActivism against violence, and we focus on the theme of silence. A wise man once said, "Silence is golden," but often forgotten is the completion, "Speech is silver." When it comes to concealing violence against women and girls, silence becomes complicity and speech trumps silence. Today, despite widespread violence, many cases remain unreported. Victims hesitate to come forward due to fear, shame, and societal pressures, and witnesses often turn a blind eye. The direct or indirect consequence of these however, is that silence protects perpetrators and denies victims the chance to heal. At Citizens' Gavel, we believe breaking the silence and creating safe spaces for victims to speak up without fear of judgment or retaliation is crucial. In every case, our OGBV team makes sure to reassure victims and witnesses, encouraging them that speaking out is the only way to empower survivors, hold perpetrators accountable, and work towards a society free from violence against women and girls. We join voices with the United Nations, UN Women, CSOs and the global community in this quest for a safer world for women and girls. #16days #EndViolenceAgainstWomen #OrangeTheWorld

Since OpenAI launched ChatGPT in November 2022, the world of technology has not remained the same. Despite its many benefits, Artificial Intelligence has also brought with it several challenges. Little wonder that the world over, countries are looking to institute legal measures to mitigate the myriads of harms stemming from the development and deployment of AI. Foremost among the harms that AI poses is the perpetuation of privacy breaches as a byproduct of sharenting. You will learn in this article what sharenting is, how AI companies are weaponizing this behaviour, and the need for sufficient legal instruments to ensure privacy protection, ethical applicability, and adherence from AI companies globally. Within the Nigerian landscape, NITDA Nigeria, NCAIR Nigeria, and other vested stakeholders must collaborate with the government to proffer adequate legal measures for the prevention and resolution of pertinent concerns such as privacy breach. In the meantime, Charles Akintola suggests in this article what parents who can't resist the sharenting urge must do. #AIGovernance #Privacy #DigitalRights #Sharenting

As big tech continues to expand their influence, their commitment to consumer protection and data privacy remains questionable. Recent events, such as Apple's alleged abuse of market power and Facebook's disregard for user data as well as the shift in content moderation policies on X (formerly known as Twitter), where explicit content have become more prevalent in the name of increased freedom of expression, raises further questions about consumer protection, the impact on vulnerable users, particularly minors and importantly, necessitates the urgent need for stricter regulations and increased accountability. A paradigm shift where platforms and big tech prioritize data protection, user privacy, and well-being over profit and faux digital democracy is possible if regulatory bodies, in collaboration with civic technology organizations worldwide, take the bull by the horns and enforce stringent regulations. As a civic tech organization dedicated to advancing human rights in Nigeria, we've been leading the charge against digital rights abuses in Nigeria, advocating for stronger consumer protection and accountability. Since 2022, we have actively engaged with policymakers and regulatory bodies such as the Nigeria Data Protection Commission- NDPC, Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, National Human Rights Commission Nigeria and FCCPC Nigeria to address the growing concerns around consumer rights violations, particularly within the FinTech industry. This year, our efforts have yielded tangible results. We have successfully advocated for the delisting of hundreds of digital lending companies, and held others accountable, ultimately creating a fairer digital landscape for all Nigerians. Beyond that, we've been committed to empowering young, vulnerable individuals with tips for digital literacy. Through partnership with Headfort Foundation for Justice, we've conducted college outreaches to promote online safety. Additionally, we've sparked important conversations around AI Governance, ethical AI deployment, and the need for stronger legal frameworks through our nationwide campus AI tours. So far, we've made over ten stops and remain dedicated to leading the charge against digital harm. Gratitude to Luminate for their unwavering support in advancing tech governance over the years. Images: Our engagements with policymakers and government regulatory bodies; images from college visits and campus tour timeline. #BigTechAccountability #AIGovernance #DataPrivacy #OnlineSafety

Dr. Adekemi Omotubora (PhD), Lead Expert, UNESCO's AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) for Nigeria, Nelson Olanipekun., Team Lead at Citizens' Gavel, and Ayomide Ladipo, Head of Tracka at BudgIT Nigeria, will be among the speakers at the Media and Development Conference (#MDC24), scheduled to take place from November 25 to 27, 2024. For virtual attendance, register here: https://lnkd.in/dQN_enKK #MediaDevCon24

We had a swell time at University of Nigeria, Nsukka, our sixth #CampusAIDrive and first AI campus stop outside South-Western region. Our representatives, Rita Odafe-Ofarn and Alabi Nicholas, were humbled by the warm welcome of the LAW STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA (LAWSA UNN), Enugu Campus, whose innovative views on leveraging ethical Artificial Intelligence to enhance access to justice in Africa, particularly Nigeria, are a testament to the forward-thinking mindset of the next generation. Like our previous campus stops, attendees were treated to a demo of Podus AI, our virtual legal assistant democratizing initial legal aid and empowering civic participation in Nigeria, Ghana and UK. Gratitude to Luminate for commiting to our mision to bridge the access to justice gap for all. Listen to some of the attendees' feedback. #AIforJustice #AIGovernance #PodusAI