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Modular Advocacy Toolkit: Addressing Violence Against Christians in Nigeria

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Module 1: Framing & Language

  • Purpose: Equip advocates with clear definitions and historical parallels.
  • Contents:
    • Genocide: systematic extermination, requiring proof of intent (UN Genocide Convention, 1948).
    • Pogrom: episodic, localized attacks tolerated or encouraged by authorities.
    • Historical analogies: Kristallnacht (pogrom foreshadowing genocide), Rwanda (genocide).
  • Action Tool: A one-page explainer comparing pogrom vs. genocide, with Nigerian case studies.
  • Use Case: Media interviews, community workshops, policy briefs.

Module 2: Documentation & Evidence

  • Purpose: Build credibility through rigorous data collection.
  • Contents:
    • Templates for incident reporting (date, location, perpetrators, victims, damages).
    • Guidelines for safe testimony collection.
    • Satellite imagery and NGO reports as corroboration.
  • Action Tool: A “Community Incident Logbook” (digital or paper) for grassroots documentation.
  • Use Case: Feeding evidence into ICC inquiries, UN reports, or NGO campaigns.

Module 3: Legal & Policy Anchors

  • Purpose: Ground advocacy in international law.
  • Contents:
    • UN Genocide Convention obligations.
    • Rome Statute definitions (genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes).
    • Case precedents (Bosnia, Rwanda, Darfur).
  • Action Tool: A “Legal Quick Reference Card” for advocates.
  • Use Case: Lobbying policymakers, drafting petitions, engaging international bodies.

Module 4: Narrative & Messaging

  • Purpose: Shape public perception and mobilize empathy.
  • Contents:
    • Messaging frames: “From Pogroms to Genocide: Preventing Escalation.”
    • Storytelling templates: survivor testimonies, historical parallels.
    • Media engagement strategies (press releases, op-eds, social campaigns).
  • Action Tool: A “Narrative Playbook” with sample talking points and analogies.
  • Use Case: Public awareness campaigns, diaspora mobilization, social media advocacy.

Module 5: Diplomatic & Institutional Engagement

  • Purpose: Pressure governments and institutions to act.
  • Contents:
    • Target audiences: UN, AU, ECOWAS, ICC, Nigerian government.
    • Lobbying strategies: petitions, resolutions, sanctions advocacy.
    • Coalition-building across faiths to avoid sectarian framing.
  • Action Tool: A “Stakeholder Map” with contact points and influence pathways.
  • Use Case: NGO coalitions, diplomatic briefings, parliamentary hearings.

Module 6: Grassroots Empowerment

  • Purpose: Strengthen local resilience and agency.
  • Contents:
    • Training guides for community leaders on documentation and advocacy.
    • Early warning systems for attacks.
    • Interfaith solidarity initiatives.
  • Action Tool: A “Community Advocacy Starter Kit” (training slides, reporting forms, solidarity rituals).
  • Use Case: Local workshops, church networks, youth mobilization.

Module 7: Monitoring & Evaluation

  • Purpose: Track progress and refine strategies.
  • Contents:
    • Metrics: recognition in UN/AU resolutions, ICC investigations, reduction in attacks.
    • Feedback loops: community surveys, diaspora input.
    • Adaptive strategies: shifting from pogrom framing to genocide framing if evidence escalates.
  • Action Tool: A “Progress Dashboard” template.
  • Use Case: NGO reporting, donor accountability, campaign retrospectives.

Module 8: Risk & Mitigation

  • Purpose: Anticipate challenges and protect advocates.
  • Contents:
    • Risks: politicization of terminology, retaliation, advocacy fatigue.
    • Mitigation: emphasize human suffering, use diaspora voices, link Nigeria to global atrocity prevention.
  • Action Tool: A “Risk Map & Response Guide.”
  • Use Case: Internal planning, safeguarding activists, donor briefings.

How to Use the Toolkit

  • Pick & Deploy: Each module can stand alone or be combined depending on audience.
  • Narrate & Share: Frame modules as living rituals of advocacy, each one a communal act of stewardship.
  • Iterate & Adapt: Update modules as evidence, narratives, and political contexts evolve.

 

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