Human Rights Commission Leads Renewed Advocacy
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and civil society partners have renewed calls for the abolition of the death penalty for women, citing deep systemic inequalities and gender-based vulnerabilities.
During an event marking the World Day Against the Death Penalty in Abuja, Funke Adeoye, Executive Director of Hope Behind Bars Africa, described capital punishment as “the most irreversible form of human rights violation.”
70% of Women on Death Row Are Mothers
A new NHRC-backed report shows that 7 in 10 women on death row are mothers between the ages of 18 and 35 — many of whom lacked access to fair trials, legal aid, or education.
Experts argue that poverty and gender bias remain root causes of injustice in Nigeria’s criminal system.
Reform Momentum Builds After Presidential Pardon
Following President Bola Tinubu’s pardon of Maryam Sanda, human rights advocates see an opportunity for legal reform and restorative justice alternatives.
Nigeria currently has over 3,000 inmates on death row, yet executions have been halted for years.
Key Takeaways
- NHRC and NGOs push to abolish death penalty for women
- Study shows systemic gender bias in convictions
- Calls for justice reform and rehabilitation grow louder