On Common Ground || FCDO ISF Documentary

For several communities in northern Nigeria, the question of access to justice is a lot more than a mere absence of legal resources. In times of trouble, the average individual is far more likely to turn not to the police nor to the courts but to their leaders, the people of their faith, or anyone whom they believe to be listening and understanding. However, are these systems enough to fully protect the vulnerable? This documentary looks inside the communities of Kano and Sokoto as they redefine access to justice in their own way. Here we get to see survivors of violence learning to use their voices in environments where their voice was never heard. Communities finding ways to address the needs of young people. Police officers and community leaders trying to fill gaps left by inaccessible and often inadequate legal frameworks and institutions. This project highlights the efforts of the people who are trying to bring legal services closer to communities while building stronger local capacities and enabling women and other marginalized communities access to justice in a safe and respectable way. Access to Justice in Northern Nigeria is not only about institutions and laws. Access to justice is about trust, about the willingness to help another person in their time of need. It is about the courage to stand up for oneself even if the world seems to be standing against. The access to justice is about the ability to trust that someone will stand with you if you seek justice in a system that is designed to make it as inaccessible as possible. Let us show you how these communities manage to achieve their goal.