The project promotes respect for dignity and human rights of women prisoners in Nigeria. It is fact that women in Nigeria are more vulnerable to human rights abuses than men. However, the typical Nigerian society may not consider a prison inmate as worthy of dignity or any rights whatsoever. Their rights are flouted and people may not care at all. This project does interventions that influence awareness attitudes and behaviours of prison staff and other relevant stakeholders towards the women prison inmates. The project has two broad goals; to persuade relevant authorities to adopt and sustain gender sensitive principles in prison management in Nigeria, and to facilitate improvement of detention conditions for women prisoners by demanding accountability from duty bearers and organising relevant campaign activities. Combined efforts of Carmelite Prisoners Interest Organisation (CAPIO), Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Prison Inmate Development Initiative (PIDI) produces sustainable outcomes by ensuring that gender education is an integral aspect of prison staff training. The peculiar situations and needs of women prisoners are being brought to the attention of stakeholders and thereby remains on the front burner until solutions are acted upon and sustained.

Carmelite Prisoners’ Interest Organisation (CAPIO) is a not-for-profit, change-development organisation of the Carmelites founded in 1992 by Carmelite Fathers as a Human Rights organisation to address the rights, needs, and dignity of prisoners. Their interventions focus mainly on providing free legal, medical aid, rehabilitation and social welfare services across Nigerian prisons.   

The Advancing Human Rights for Women Prisoners project implemented interventions that influenced awareness, attitudes, and behaviours of prison staff and other relevant stakeholders towards the women prison inmates. The project had two broad goals; to persuade relevant authorities to adopt and sustain gender sensitive principles in prison management in Nigeria, and to facilitate improvement of detention conditions for women prisoners by demanding accountability from duty bearers and organising relevant campaign activities. 

CAPIO has used its social media handles to inform the general public of its  interventions, and through month and quarterly reports donors are informed of progress recorded in the project, while through CAPIO newsletter all stakeholders are informed of inroad towards improving the welfare of inmates in Nigeria. Peculiar situations and needs of women prisoners like Chika are brought to the attention of stakeholders and thereby remain on the front burner until solutions are acted upon and sustained. 

Emeka was born in prison. His mother, Chika 20 years old pregnant lady was unlawfully arrested at the instigation of a family member who was not happy about her relationship with her 21-year-old husband. She was confined at the custodial centre where she had no access to antenatal care, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene.  Female inmates across Nigeria lack access to clean toilets, flowing water and sanitary pads.  When they have children, they rely on the goodwill of others to feed and cater to their needs.  Then, Chika gave birth while confined to the prison cell.  This is when Carmelite Prisoners’ Interest Organisation (CAPIO) came to Chika’s and her new born baby’s rescue.  The material required by Chika for the birth and other post-birth needs were provided by CAPIO and other well-meaning individuals and organizations.    

Creating Sustainability So as baby Emeka starts his life within prison walls and his mother Chika experiences her first motherhood while behind bars, at least some little dignity was provided. By partnering with Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Prison Inmate Development Initiative (PIDI), the project has produced sustainable outcomes by ensuring that gender education is an integral aspect of prison staff training. This ensures that women prisoners are subject to more humane conditions while in prison.