BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights uses mock tribunals to influence public policy. The tactic was needed not only because of recurring abuses against women, including physical abuse, rape, sexual exploitation and female genital mutilation, but also because of the widespread belief that human rights violations against women are not serious or are simply normal or even justifiable.

BAOBAB organized the first National Tribunal on Violence against Women on March 14th 2002 in the capital city of Abuja. The tribunal was unofficial and not legally binding but the testimony was real – 33 women were selected to testify. Some of them had volunteered, and many agreed to share their experiences when they realized this may have a positive impact on their families and communities. They testified about their experience of violence from the state, in the home, and from society as a whole.

The judges were selected based on their prominence and their concern for women’s rights. They included two Supreme Court Justices, several heads of NGOs, and prominent lawyers. The tribunals were open to the public, and the organizers took special care to invite journalists, police, commissioners, and other groups. Different types of human rights abuses were grouped into different sessions. The panel of judges listened, asked questions, and after the testimonies, they convened in private. Afterwards, rather than passing a sentence, as in a regular trial, the judges would make a public policy proclamation.

The testimonies were very moving for the audience, and the attendance of journalists led to wider public awareness of the tribunals. Locally, the tribunals have helped to get state legislation passed against female genital mutilation. On a national level, their impact has helped advance a domestic violence bill. More generally, the tribunals have created greater public awareness that abuses against women do exist, and that they are serious.

Organizers of the tribunal feel that this tactic could be useful to other causes and groups. For example, it could be applied to HIV/AIDS cases in a variety of ways – sufferers could testify on the variety of ways HIV/AIDS is experienced as a human rights abuse. The tactic of the mock tribunal is effective because it can show the range of ways in which a particular human rights abuse affects people, and because it can create public awareness of violations and move public opinion towards their mitigation.