BraveHeart Initiative for Youth & Women (BHI)

BraveHeart Initiative for Youth & Women (BHI) is a community-based nonprofit in Edo State, Nigeria. Established in 2007, it promotes social justice and strengthens local response mechanisms for sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), fosters a new generation of feminists, SGBV advocates, and sexual and reproductive health and rights activists.  A prior award enabled BHI to pursue strategic litigation against defilement, rape, and sexual harassment. This award from the Country Office Discretionary Fund supports BHI in bringing to a successful conclusion SGBV cases pending in courts, ensuring justice for survivors, and strengthening the protection of rights.

BraveHeart Initiative for Youth & Women (BHI) is a community-based nonprofit in Edo State, Nigeria. Established in 2009, it promotes social justice and strengthens local response mechanisms for sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), fostering a new generation of feminists, SGBV advocates, and sexual and reproductive health and rights activists. Through this award, BHI is mobilizing collective voices against SGBV through public education and training for young activists, police responders, and community leaders. The project promotes documentation, investigation, arrests, and prosecution of SGBV cases in rural communities. It provides psychosocial support to survivors and encourages coordination and collaboration among community stakeholders, including police, neighborhood watch groups, and the state ministry of justice. This award is a part of the Nigeria Country office's work to promote social justice in Nigeria.