Kano, Nigeria – 2024 — Justice Shield, Lift Africa Foundation’s flagship legal protection programme, continues to expand access to justice for survivors of sexual exploitation and
gender-based violence (GBV) across Kano State. Designed to address systemic failures in the
justice sector, Justice Shield provides survivor-centred legal aid, courtroom representation, case monitoring, protection support, and community-based advocacy to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable and survivors are empowered to pursue justice safely.
The programme operates at the intersection of law, community protection, and institutional
reform—bridging critical gaps that often prevent survivors from accessing timely and dignified justice.
A Survivor-Centered Legal Protection Program
Justice Shield is grounded in the principle that survivors deserve safety, dignity, and justice.
Many of the survivors supported by the program are children, adolescents, and young women
facing intersecting vulnerabilities such as:
- poverty
- family instability
- stigma
- cultural and religious pressures
- limited access to legal knowledge
- fear of retaliation or social exclusion
Justice Shield responds by offering free, comprehensive legal assistance that removes the
financial and procedural barriers that commonly block survivors from accessing justice
pathways.
Core services include:
- Legal aid and representation
Qualified legal officers handle case filing, court appearances, documentation, and follow-up to prevent adjournment abuse and case collapse.
- Case monitoring and follow-up
The team tracks each case through the justice system — from police report to final judgment — ensuring accountability at every stage.
- Survivor accompaniment and counselling referrals
Survivors receive support throughout the legal process to reduce trauma, protect their safety, and strengthen resilience
- Engagement with police, SARCs, and NAPTIP
Justice Shield collaborates with relevant institutions to improve coordination and evidence
management in GBV cases.
- Community sensitization and gatekeeper engagement
The program works with traditional leaders, mothers, teachers, and youth to reduce case
interference and strengthen community reporting systems.
Addressing Structural Barriers in the Justice System
Kano’s justice ecosystem faces persistent challenges that undermine justice delivery for
survivors. These include:
- pressure on survivors to withdraw cases
- reliance on informal settlements
- slow prosecutorial processes
- weak forensic and medical documentation systems
- limited survivor shelters and referral mechanisms
- the absence of a domesticated VAPP Law
Justice Shield works to counter these barriers by:
- filling institutional gaps
- supporting survivors who would otherwise be silenced
- holding authorities accountable for delays
- strengthening case documentation
- ensuring court processes remain transparent and fair
Recent Milestones: Securing Convictions Through Rigorous Casework
In November 2024, Justice Shield secured four landmark convictions for sexual exploitation
across Kano — with judgments delivered on 12 and 27 November 2024. These outcomes
demonstrate the program’s impact and the effectiveness of survivor-centered legal intervention.
The cases highlight:
- improved justice access for low-income survivors
- strengthened community trust in formal legal systems
- increased accountability for sexual exploitation
- evidence for policy advocacy on VAPP domestication
Each conviction represents a survivor’s resilience, a functioning justice pathway, and a step
toward a safer Kano for women and girls.
Strengthening Community-Level Accountability
Justice Shield actively works to ensure that GBV cases are not suppressed through:
- intimidation
- financial pressure
- cultural negotiations
- threats to families
- harmful mediation practices
The program engages traditional leaders, community elders, religious actors, and youth groups to shift norms around silence, victim-blaming, and informal settlements.
Through continuous community dialogue, Justice Shield reinforces that sexual exploitation is a crime, not a matter for negotiation.
Contributing to Policy Reform and Justice Advocacy
Beyond individual cases, Justice Shield contributes evidence that informs reform conversations with policymakers and justice-sector actors. The program advocates for:
- domestication of the Harmonized VAPP Act in Kano
- increased funding for GBV response and legal aid
- expansion of survivor shelters
- improved coordination across justice and health systems
- survivor-friendly procedures across police and courts
These reforms are critical to protecting survivors and strengthening accountability.
Lift Africa Foundation’s Commitment
Justice Shield exemplifies Lift Africa Foundation’s mission to protect vulnerable populations,
advance justice, and strengthen institutional systems across Northern Nigeria. The program
continues to champion:
- survivor dignity
- access to justice
- institutional accountability
- legal empowerment
- protection for women, girls, and at-risk groups
With every case pursued, every conviction secured, and every survivor supported, Justice Shield reaffirms Lift Africa’s commitment to building a society where justice is accessible, rights are upheld, and violence is never tolerated.