Women's Health and Equal Rights Initiative

Founded in 2011, the Women’s Health and Equal Rights (WHER) Initiative is a feminist, community-based, and women-led organization committed to advancing the health, rights, and well-being of lesbian, bisexual, queer, and gender non-conforming (LBQ-GNC) persons in Nigeria. WHER was established in response to the urgent need for safe, inclusive, and affirming spaces for LBQGNC individuals to access support, healthcare, and advocacy in a highly discriminatory and hostile environment.

Mission and Goals

WHER’s mission is to promote and protect the rights, health, and dignity of LBQ-GNC persons through advocacy, education, psychosocial support, and community building. Our core goals are to:

1. Improve access to quality, inclusive healthcare services for LBQ-GNC persons.
2. Strengthen the leadership, economic empowerment, and political participation of LBQ-GNC individuals.
3. Promote visibility, representation, and human rights through storytelling, movement building, and documentation.
4. Create and sustain safe spaces that foster community resilience, healing, and solidarity.

Past and Current Activities

WHER has led a wide range of impactful programs, including:

1. Health and Well-being: We provide confidential and affirming health services tailored to LBQ-GNC individuals, including mental health support, HIV prevention, and sexual and reproductive health services.
2. Emergency Response: Through our safe house and emergency support mechanisms, we offer critical crisis intervention services to LBQ-GNC individuals experiencing violence, eviction, or displacement.An example of other supports we provide to community includes our WHER's Queer Giving Initiative focused on providing essential food support to the LBQ-GNC community, addressing the immediate need for sustenance in a challenging socio-economic climate. With limited resources, the initiative utilized WHER's general support funding to ensure that community members facing food insecurity received aid.The program distributed food packages to over 50 individuals, prioritizing those most in need, including LBQ-GNC persons dealing with financial hardship, unemployment, or housing instability. This effort was a testament to WHER's unwavering commitment to supporting the well-being of marginalized groups, even in the face of constrained resources.
3. Empowerment and Leadership Development: Our programs, including She Leads - a digital empowerment and leadership development program that equips young LBQ-GNC individuals with advocacy and civic engagement skills, the Ike Fellowship - Aimed at empowering LBQ-GNC individuals with disabilities, The Power-Up Project - empowered seven LBQTI+ organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa to strengthen their capacity for gender and sexual rights advocacy, providing leadership training, advocacy, entrepreneurship, and human rights education, and targeted leadership and digital empowerment initiatives, support young LBQ-GNC women, recent graduates, and emerging entrepreneurs to build advocacy, civic engagement, and livelihood skills. These interventions equip participants with tools for personal and collective empowerment, self-reliance, and leadership within their communities.
4. Advocacy and Human Rights: WHER is a key voice in advancing human rights through multiple advocacy platforms. We implement strategic litigation, grassroots paralegal programs, and partner with broader feminist and LGBTIQ+ movements to challenge and dismantle draconian laws and policies targeting women and LGBTIQ persons. Our work also includes public education, community research, and documentation efforts aimed at shifting narratives and influencing policies. Part of our Advocacy and Human Rights work includes values clarification and sensitization initiatives to foster inclusion and change hearts and minds. An example is our WE LEAD SRHR initiative which convened 13 Community Of Actions organizations to foster a deeper understanding of SRHR inclusivity. The workshop aimed to address systemic barriers impacting LBQ-GNC individuals, with participants engaging in transformative dialogues and sharing personal experiences. These discussions facilitated the development of practical advocacy skills, empowering participants to advocate for gender equity and inclusivity within their organizations. We also have invested in strategic litigation in the past 2 years, In January 2024, Akudo Oguaghamba and eight others (WHER Staff) faced public and institutional harassment following the release of a video online. The Nigeria Police Force, represented by its Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, declared the video "criminal" and threatened action against the applicants via a public post on X (formerly Twitter). These actions included the threat of arrest and detention without prior investigation or trial. The public statements incited significant backlash, including threats to the applicants' safety and well-being, leading to psychological and emotional distress. We took to court to defend our fundamental human rights. The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory ruled in favor affirming that:

i) The public declarations and threats by the Respondents (Police) violated our' fundamental rights under Sections 34, 35, and 38 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

ii) We are entitled to dignity, liberty, and freedom from unlawful harassment.

iii) The actions of the Respondents were in bad faith and amounted to a breach of constitutional and human rights protections.

The Court granted the following reliefs:

i) Restraint against further harassment or arrest of the applicants (Us).

ii) A public apology from the Respondents, to be published in two national newspapers.

iii) Payment of ₦100,000,000 in damages for emotional and psychological trauma.

Another legal battle won by WHER includes "The Apo 24" case represents a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for LGBTQGNC rights in Nigeria. The case began on June 24, 2023, when 24 young LBQ-GNC individuals, aged between 19 and 26, were arrested during a private gathering in Abuja. Their arrest was based on perceived sexual orientations and gender identities. The police, aided by an informant, raided the event, arrested all attendees, and held them in detention for four days, during which they were denied basic human rights and subjected to severe mistreatment. They endured severe physical and emotional distress. Many were on their menstrual cycles and suffering from severe abdominal pain, while others faced health complications such as asthma, which were ignored. The conditions of the detention facility were appalling, with no access to basic necessities, unsanitary environments, and physical assault on some detainees. Our organization WHER intervened promptly, providing legal representation and logistical support to the detainees. WHER successfully facilitated bail arrangements despite the difficulties posed by the police and court system. This support also extended to offering food, transportation, accommodation, and psychological assistance for those who resided outside Abuja. At the initial court appearance on July 20, 2023, the presiding magistrate exhibited prejudice towards the LGBTQGNC community. She suggested sending the detainees to a distant prison, disregarding their basic rights and needs. However, following continued advocacy, the case was reassigned to a more reasonable magistrate who accepted the existing bail condition. On May 28, 2024, after nearly a year of legal struggles, the case was resolved in a landmark ruling. The judge, acknowledging the dehumanizing conditions the detainees had faced, discharged and acquitted all 24 accused individuals. The judge commended their resilience and bravery, recognizing the adverse impact the case had on their lives. This outcome is a significant victory for LGBTQGNC rights in Nigeria.

5. Movement Building and Visibility: We lead and support regional initiatives such as African Pride Accelerated and serve as the Nigerian host of Free to Be Me, both of which create platforms for collective action, cultural resistance, and community resilience. Our creative advocacy projects, including digital campaigns and storytelling efforts, promote visibility, amplify community voices, and strengthen collective identity.

Looking Ahead

As we look to the future, WHER is focused on deepening and scaling up its work to meet the evolving needs of our community. Planned activities include:

1. Expanding our Pathways to Economic Empowerment for LBQ-GNC in Nigeria (PEEL) program to include more comprehensive livelihood support, entrepreneurship incubation, and employment pathways for young women, recent graduates, and queer entrepreneurs.
2. Scaling up our leadership development initiatives, including She Leads, the Ike Fellowship, and tailored capacity-building programs for young LBQ-GNC individuals seeking to influence civic and political spaces.
3. Strengthening and expanding our emergency response infrastructure, including enhanced safe house support, trauma-informed care training for staff, toll-free helplines, and the development of a comprehensive emergency response protocol.
4. Deepening our strategic litigation and paralegal initiatives, while forging stronger collaborations with feminist and LGBTIQ+ movements to collectively challenge discriminatory laws and push for inclusive policies that uphold the dignity and rights of all.
5. Broadening our documentation and advocacy efforts through community-led research, publications, and initiatives like 65 Voices for Justice, a Pan-African storytelling series that centers LBQGNC realities.
6. Advancing our commitment to climate justice and sustainability, ensuring LBQ-GNC communities are not left behind in environmental decision-making and green economy opportunities.