In commemoration of the International Day for Human Rights, The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs) in partnership with Y!YNaija.com, The Equality Hub and The Rustin Times, is set to host its annual symposium themed Human Rights, Sexuality and The Law.
The conference will take place on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at Four Points by Sheraton, Victoria Island, Lagos, with Chude Jideonwo, Co-Founder, RED and Yale Greenberg World Fellow as keynote speaker.
As a platform for in-depth conversation on fundamental human rights and inclusion, the event seeks to explore cultural, traditional and religious ideas and their impact on the fundamental rights of sexual minorities in Nigeria.
It also seeks to create an earnest inquiry into issues of human rights violations in Nigeria and the seeming acceptance of inhumanity and mass infractions perpetrated against persons perceived to be different by sexual orientation or gender identity expression.
Speaking on the topic, Olumide Makanjuola, Executive Director of TIERs, said that “the symposium provides an opportunity for participants to explore cultural and religious concepts on the treatment of human beings, and will help bridge the gap between personal beliefs, moral values and human rights”.
Moderated by Arit Okpo, panelists at the event include Victor Ugo, founder of Mentally Aware, one of Nigeria’s leading mental health advocacy organisations; Wana Uduobang, poet, journalist and writer; Ayo Sogunro, lawyer and jurist; Dami Ajayi, doctor, poet and writer, Amanda Ihemebiri, psychotherapist; Papa Oyeyemi, a fashion designer; Shade Ladipo, media entrepreneur and social activist and Boki Ofodile, a lifestyle curator and feminist activist.
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About TIERs
The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs) is a Nigeria-based registered non-for-profit organisation working to protect and promote the human rights of sexual minorities nationally and regionally. We’re committed to bringing about a society that is free from discrimination and harm on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. We work towards this goal through education, empowerment and engagement with the many publics in Nigeria. We were founded in 2005 as a response to the discrimination and marginalisation of sexual minorities in both HIV prevention programming and mainstream human rights work. We currently have 11 full time members of staff and over 50 volunteers peer educators.
About YNaija
YNaija is the internet newspaper for young Nigerians, focused on the issues and ideas that matter for an evolving generation. It is an arm of the RED brand, which is the continent’s largest omni-media group focused on Africa’s youth.