CLEEN Foundation has officially launched a new project in Edo State aimed at improving the functionality of the criminal justice system. The project, titled “Strengthening the Administration of Criminal Justice Process through the Effective Implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) of Edo State,” is supported by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC II) Programme, funded by the European Union and implemented by International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).

This intervention couldn’t have come at a better time. While the Administration of Criminal Justice Law was passed in Edo in 2016, inconsistencies in how it is implemented, along with low public awareness and underfunded institutions, continue to undermine its effectiveness. With this project, CLEEN is working to bridge that gap. The goal is simple but ambitious: promote widespread awareness of citizens’ rights under the ACJL and the Anti-Torture Act of 2017, while also strengthening the ability of law enforcement institutions to enforce the law fairly and responsibly.

The project will run for one year and includes a wide range of activities, from launching a web-based app called the Edo Report App—designed for reporting rights violations, to grassroots campaigns like the “Know Una Rights” market outreach. Community radio programmes, inter-agency trainings, and capacity-building workshops for civil society and media actors are also in the pipeline, all aimed at building a more accountable and rights-respecting justice system.