In 2011-2012, Madeleine Bridgett joined the Niger Delta Child Rights Watch (NDCRW) project, an initiative by Stepping Stones Nigeria and the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales to raise the capacity of Nigerian child rights NGOs to document, investigate and monitor cases of child rights abuse across the Niger Delta, report such cases to the relevant authorities, and secure successful prosecutions of offenders. The project also provides direct emergency support to children who have suffered abuse, including medical care, food, educational support and counselling.

In her role as an intern representing the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales, Madeleine provided dedicated legal case management support to the NDCRW project partners on documentation, monitoring and follow-up of child abuse cases with the aim of supporting domestic prosecutions.

Madeleine also undertook advocacy to assist the government with the implementation of the 2003 Child Rights Act at a local and national level. The project brought about important achievements which included the first prosecution of a child abuse case at a Family Court in Cross River State.

The NDCRW project brings together organisations from different States in the Niger Delta: Basic Rights Counsel Initiative (Cross River State), Stepping Stones Nigeria Child Empowerment Foundation (Akwa Ibom State) and the Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (Rivers State).

For more information:

http://www.barhumanrights.org.uk/niger-delta-child-rights-watch-project-2011-2012