Amongst the 3 core programs of the Centre for Social, Awareness, Advocacy, and Ethics, is the “ADVOCACY PROGRAM”, which its core mandate is to deliver;
1. Human rights
2. Rule of laws
3. Good Governance and
4. Anti-corruption
The C-advocates is a coalition of Pro-bono legal practitioners from various states of Nigeria. They offer free legal services to Human rights cases, Issues involving rule of law, and Corruption concerns in society. The C-Advocates currently has a network of lawyers from across the nation, and every year they meet to discuss and map out strategies for the year’s engagements. This year the C-Advocates from across the states of the South-East, arrived in Owerri Imo state Nigeria, for the Centre for Social, Awareness, Advocacy, and Ethics 2023 Inauguration of the Advocacy Year, Themed; “Promoting Human Rights, Rule of Law, Good Governance and Anti-Corruption in South-Eastern Nigeria”.
South-East just like every part of Nigeria has been pledged with corruption and human rights abuses. A fundamental problem that has disrupted the growth of the region is the issue of good governance. The Region is faced with a dilemma of successionism and Status-quo patriotism, this ideological challenge has crippled the region from a systematic, comprehensive, and significant growth of which the indigenous people of the region “IGBOs” are known for. The national security force may have taken advantage of the situation, to perpetrate abuses on the fundamental rights of humans on the people.
Corruption has eaten deep into the social and moral fabrics, and we have cases, where individuals attempt to justify corrupt practices, and may even go further, creating a defense on the basics of systematic governmental unofficial recognition and nonchalance to propagate any real change.
These issues and more are the chief causes of regional stagnation, and poorly or slowly facilitated growth, within the region, which hampers the support and encouragement system of the citizenry to work hard and live in dignity. The C-Advocate an Arm of the Centre for Social, Awareness, Advocacy, and Ethics, would dedicate this year to challenging various forms of corruption that affect development, growth, civil liberties, good governance, and ultimately the abuses of human rights. Recall that the C-Advocates in 2022 facilitated the release of people that have been incarcerated in various correctional facilities without court hearings across the south-east, including young people that were involved in the Famous “End-Sars” protest,(Read here).
Are you facing human rights abuses? Do you have corruption challenges? Interested in anonymous whistle-blowing on bad governance? Interested in anonymous whistle-blowing on Corruption and corrupt practices in your area?
Let’s make the South-East a better place by calling our Toll-free hotline;
0800- 900-1000. Our advocates are standing by to help.
Written By;
Osunkwo Kingsley Uzoma
Fellow, Centre for Social, Awareness, Advocacy, and Ethics
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