The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) was created in 2004 and registered as a non-governmental, non-profit organization under Nigerian laws.
Recognising the unexplored potential of international human rights law for increasing transparency, accountability and protection of economic and social rights in Nigeria, SERAP was created to promote these principles and values. The organization aims to use human rights law to encourage the government and others to address developmental and human rights challenges such as corruption, poverty, inequality and discrimination.
For several years, we have worked to hold the government to account through the framework of human rights and anti-corruption laws and standards. We have continued to offer free legal advice and services for victims of corruption and economic and social rights. We help those whose economic and social rights are violated to obtain redress.
SERAP, in line with its founding vision, has helped to advance transparency, accountability and respect for economic and social rights through other means such as media advocacy, public impact and strategic litigation, capacity building, institutional building, and education and awareness. We also work very closely with many partners–government and non-governmental organizations, notably the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC), and International Commission of Jurists (ICJ).
Through our public impact and strategic litigation efforts we regularly bring cases before Nigerian courts, ECOWAS Court, African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights which raise issues of fundamental importance in human rights and anti-corruption laws and standards, and potentially can help to influence positive legal reforms, policy development jurisprudence or shape public opinion.
Our litigation work benefits hugely from the increasing list of our volunteers—lawyers and non-lawyers alike—and through litigation partnership including with international NGOs such as INTERIGHTS, International Commission of Jurists, Amnesty International, and the UNCAC Coalition.
SERAP received the Wole Soyinka Anti-Corruption Defender Award in 2014. It has also been nominated for the UN Civil Society Award and Ford Foundation’s Jubilee Transparency Award. SERAP serves as one of two Sub-Saharan African civil society representatives on the UNCAC Coalition, a global anti-corruption network of over 310 civil society organizations (CSOs) in over 100 countries.
This also highlights some of the achievements we have recorded, as well as pointing to challenges and opportunities for the future. It provides an opportunity to reflect on some of the momentous events which have shaped our activities during more than a decade of our work. It is also an occasion to thank our many supporters, partners, and friends who have shared our work with us for many years.
Over the years, public impact and strategic litigation have become a major part of our work. Our public interest litigation work is based on the need to use the law to support larger human rights struggles and as an important tool of social change.
Our litigation efforts go beyond filing and arguing cases in court to researching and filing a third party or amicus curiae briefs. We highlight some of the cases we have filed and argued before national and regional courts in the years.
