Rights Academy

03/08/2026

On Wednesday, July 29, 2026, The Rights Academy, through its Child Rights Protection Group, paid a strategic advocacy and fact-finding visit to the Cross River State Child Rights Law Implementation Committee (SCRIC) as part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening child protection systems across the state.
The Committee, chaired by the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Edema Irom, plays a critical role in coordinating the implementation of the Cross River State Child Rights Law and ensuring that every child is protected, supported, and given the opportunity to thrive.
The engagement provided valuable insights into the realities facing institutions responsible for protecting children and highlighted the importance of stronger partnerships between government agencies, civil society organizations, and communities in advancing children's rights.
We remain steadfast in our commitment to advocating for stronger child protection systems.

13/07/2026

The first session of the Rights Academy cohort 5 was a call to action, and set the tone for the journey ahead.

Together with Ken Henshaw, participants explored what it means to be a countercultural activist: confront injustice, and challenge the systems and norms that sustain inequality and environmental destruction.

One message rang clear: there is no activism without action. Participants were urged to find their “why”, a purpose rooted in genuine care for people and the planet, because the work of transformation is difficult, slow, and often uphill. It is this deep conviction that sustains movements and turns dissent into lasting change.
This is where the journey begins!

What is your WHY?

10/07/2026

Last weekend, the Rights Academy welcomed its fifth cohort into a growing movement of young people determined to confront injustice and build a society rooted in dignity, equality, and ecological justice.
Over the next 13 weeks, participants will engage in critical learning, field experiences, and practical advocacy on human rights and environmental justice.

The Rights Academy exists to cultivate a new generation of informed, skilled, and socially conscious young leaders who are empowered to advance human rights and environmental justice while boldly challenging oppressive systems and the status quo.

To Cohort 5: welcome to the movement. Your voices, your courage, and your collective action are needed now more than ever.

01/07/2026

The presence of children living on the streets of Calabar is not a crime. It is evidence of a society that has abandoned its most basic responsibilities.
No child chooses the street. Children end up there because social protection systems have failed, and the government has neglected its constitutional and moral duty to safeguard every child's welfare.

Criminalizing children for surviving institutional failure is both unjust and cruel. A child without a home needs protection, care, education, and opportunity, not arrest, detention, or public condemnation. When the state treats vulnerable children as offenders instead of rights holders, it is punishing the victims while excusing the systems that failed them.

The true scandal is not that children are on the streets. The true scandal is that the government has allowed conditions that force children onto the streets in the first place.
A society should be judged by how it treats its most vulnerable. If we fail our children, we fail our future.

The government and all relevant institutions must stop criminalizing poverty and start investing in protection, rehabilitation, education, and family support. Children deserve justice, dignity, and hope, not handcuffs.

01/06/2026

📣 CALL FOR APPLICATION: RIGHTS ACADEMY COHORT 5

Human and nature rights are essential components of a sustainable future and require proper recognition, protection, and promotion. As we strive to build a better world, it is crucial that we understand the interdependence between human rights and the rights of nature. The Rights Academy is committed to fostering an understanding of this underlying relationship among our students. The aim of the Academy is to build and strengthen the capacity of participants to become agents of change in communities where they find themselves.

We are looking for focused and committed persons between the ages of 18 and 30 who are passionate about ending human and nature rights abuses and empowering them to make a difference in their communities. The Rights Academy will deploy a rich curriculum to be taught by professionals and renowned activists between June and August, 2026, in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.

Do you fit this description? Are you based in Calabar, Cross River State?

Apply here:https://forms.gle/BGVVxb9AiFgYtP157

Deadline for application: June 9th, 2026, by 11:59pm

15/04/2026

Want to download a copy of the Simplified Cross River State Child Rights Law?

Follow these simple steps:
1. Visit https://rightsacademy.org
2. Click on Publications
3. Select the document and click Download

Access the law, stay informed, and join us in advancing the rights and protection of every child in Cross River State.

14/04/2026

14/04/2026

‎As part of our continued commitment to strengthening child protection systems and promoting wider awareness and understanding of children’s rights across Cross River State, and in commemoration of the International Day for Street Children, we convened key stakeholders from the Ministry of Social Welfare and Community Development, the Ministry of Women Affairs, the State Universal Basic Education Board, and other relevant ministries, as well as civil society actors, for the launch of the Simplified Cross River State Child Rights Law.
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‎Beyond the official unveiling of the publication, the event provided an important opportunity for key stakeholders to engage in meaningful dialogue on current child protection challenges within the state, particularly issues affecting vulnerable and at-risk children, while collectively exploring practical steps for stronger implementation and enforcement of the law.
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‎The meeting featured a perspective-shifting presentation on Reframing Society’s Response to Street Children in Cross River State, with a clear message that our response should be to protect, not punish.
‎We also had insightful panel discussions on Addressing the Street Child Problem from the Root: Practical Solutions and Interventions, focused on sustainable, rights-based solutions for vulnerable children.
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‎Together, we remain committed to building stronger child protection systems and advancing the rights and dignity of every child.

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23/03/2026

In Nigeria today, with the rising hostilities against women, it is more urgent than ever to actively engage men as allies in advancing gender equality.

Last week, the Rights Academy, in partnership with Development Drive Africa, convened a session on Gender Equality and Men as Feminist Champions. The event brought together participants to reflect on gender issues, challenge harmful norms, and commit to building a more inclusive society.

Through interactive discussions and shared experiences, the session debunked common myths around patriarchy and emphasised that achieving gender equality requires the involvement and responsibility of everyone, especially men. Participants explored practical ways men can support, defend, and promote the rights of women, while fostering respect and fairness in their homes, workplaces, and communities.

A key outcome of the session was a renewed commitment to action. The men present signed a pledge to challenge violence and stand up for the rights and dignity of women and girls.

The message was clear: advancing gender equality requires deliberate effort, shared responsibility, and sustained action.

09/03/2026

Happy International Women’s Day, 2026
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‎Today, we celebrate the strength, courage, and resilience of women and girls everywhere. From the classrooms to the boardrooms, from the markets to the communities, women continue to show up, speak up, and rise even when the odds are tough.
‎This year, we are reminded that empowering women is not just a women’s issue; it is a human issue. When women are given equal opportunities to learn, lead, and thrive, everyone benefits.
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‎Let us continue to break barriers, challenge harmful stereotypes, and create safe spaces where every girl can dream boldly and live freely.
‎Here’s to strong women.
‎May we know them.
‎May we support them.
‎May we raise them.
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