Access to justice is an essential component of protecting and enforcing human rights. Vulnerable groups in particular are more susceptible to human rights abuses where they do not have adequate access to justice mechanisms. As such, Global Rights commenced a paralegal program in Northern Nigeria to bridge the gap, and afford indigent women access to legal aid. This toolkit is part of the materials developed by Global Rights to provide trained paralegals with roadmaps for aiding women at police stations and within the court systems, taking them through the personnel, functional and procedural steps at these institutions.
The unique aspect of this initiative is that it caters to both the formal and informal justice systems as well as the Sharia legal system, where women have been largely underserved. Global Rights, whose programs address governance failures that exacerbate the disenfranchisement and the violations of the rights of the poor and marginalised, women and victims of discrimination. believes that this intervention will not only promote the rule of law, but will also reduce poverty and build long-term peace and stability.