Amnesty International has called for greater use of data and grassroots advocacy in addressing human rights violations in Nigeria, insisting that citizens, institutions and governments must work together to strengthen accountability and protect vulnerable communities.

The call was made in Calabar during a two-day capacity-building workshop for human rights defenders under Amnesty International’s pilot project being implemented in Cross River, Kano and Bauchi states.

Speaking at the training, Amnesty International’s Programmes Manager, Barbara Magaji, said the initiative was designed to equip volunteers and social media influencers with the skills needed to promote human rights awareness, document violations and engage relevant authorities for redress.

According to her, human rights abuses often occur in remote communities where victims have limited access to justice, making it necessary to build a network of trained advocates capable of responding to such challenges at the grassroots.

“We want people to become conscious of their rights, understand how to respond when violations occur and know how to hold institutions accountable. Human rights violations happen in communities, not just in state capitals, and people must be empowered to act,” she said.

Magaji explained that participants were selected through an application process and had undergone virtual sessions before the physical training, adding that each participant would be expected to undertake advocacy projects addressing specific human rights concerns within their communities.

She noted that issues ranging from restrictions on freedom of expression and attacks on journalists to challenges in healthcare and education could form the basis of community advocacy campaigns.

The Amnesty official expressed confidence that the participants would make meaningful impact, citing previous engagements in Cross River, including campaigns against mob violence and killings linked to witchcraft accusations.

Also speaking, consultant and facilitator, Folahan Johnson, stressed that effective human rights advocacy must be backed by credible data, noting that evidence-based reporting is critical to understanding the scale of violations and developing appropriate responses.

“We cannot really communicate the extent of the problem if we are not measuring it. Data is very important in any conversation around human rights violations and protection in Nigeria,” he said.

Johnson lamented what he described as Nigeria’s poor data culture, arguing that many public policies and interventions are driven by sentiments rather than verifiable evidence.

He urged governments and public institutions to collaborate with civil society groups in collecting, validating and applying data to address societal challenges.

According to him, accurate data can help authorities identify patterns of abuse, including allegations of misconduct by security personnel, while enabling policymakers to design targeted interventions instead of relying on blanket solutions.

He maintained that beyond data collection, proper interpretation and application of findings are necessary to ensure effective governance, improved public services and stronger protection of human rights.

The workshop forms part of Amnesty International’s broader efforts to strengthen civic participation and build a network of community-based human rights defenders capable of promoting accountability and advancing respect for human rights across Nigeria.