The Adalci project aims to strengthen justice pathways to reduce vulnerability to violent extremism (VE) by improving tools to address the core grievances that fuel extremism, in the country’s three main hotbeds of instability: Diffa, Tahoua, and Tillaberi.
Niger Human Rights and Access to Justice Activity, this 4-year program (September 15 2020 until September 14 2024) will seek to strengthen pathways to justice to reduce vulnerability to VE by strengthening tools to address core grievances that drive extremism in VE prone areas in Niger.
Before the start of project activities, a baseline assessment was planned. The objective of this baseline study is to establish a baseline situation on the indicators defined by the project. It consists of measuring the current state of access to justice and the level of knowledge of their rights by the populations of the region, and providing information on the relevance of the approach to the context.
The main results of this baseline assessment are structured under the following key points:
Conflict dynamics analysis
- The different types of conflicts cited in the three regions are: Those linked to Boko Haram (BH) (75% of respondents), terrorism, farmers/farmers (55% of respondents), farmers/herders (45% of respondents), conflicts between young people (these are conflicts of young people in fadas called palaces) (25% of respondents), armed conflicts linked to attacks by non-state armed groups (NSAG) (95% of respondents). Farmer/farmer and herder/farmer conflicts are common to all municipalities. Conflicts related to BH and youth conflicts are unique to the Diffa region
Inequality between men and women and social exclusion
- Niger recognizes equal access to justice for all. However, this assessment reveals that social constraints (the place and role of women, misinterpretation of religion, etc.) are the main causes of social inequality. This situation is stronger in rural areas than in urban areas. Certain categories of the population, women (55% of respondents) and young people (60% of respondents), do not always file complaints with the judicial authorities. In addition to social constraints, one must consider the geographical and social distance (justice, gendarmes in rural areas), the lack of knowledge of the formal judicial services, and the cost for the communities. The majority of people surveyed (65%) rely much more on traditional justice services (village and canton chiefs).
Reducing Inequality and Promoting Fair Social Participation
- The data reveal that by acting on social charges and the cost of transport by promoting the establishment of communal and community reference structures.
Baseline for performance indicators
- Indicator 1: 32% of respondents who generally refer to traditional chiefs in case of legal problems are satisfied with the problems solved and 68% for those who refer to administrative authorities and justice institutions.
- Indicator 3: 42% of the respondents affirm the inclusive and receptive character of decisions relating to the mediation of local conflicts.
- Indicator 4: 25% of traditional leaders and other community mediators surveyed claim to be better equipped to resolve disputes in their communities.
- Indicator 5: 19% of respondents demonstrate knowledge of local conventions in their communities as a tool for dispute resolution, all the same the interviewees confirmed that local conventions (dispute resolution procedures) are not better suited to settle some conflicts.
- Indicators 6: 33% of respondents are aware of community conflict mediation systems as a tool for conflict resolution.
- Indicator 7: 25% of the respondents (CSO representatives) we met say they have a real need for documentation and office equipment to carry out their mission.
