Every word, even the ugly ones, is evidence. From "yan daudu" in Hausa (pre-Islamic term for feminine men) to Zulu's "istabane," these words prove CJ Bomberr's point: if queerness was foreign, our ancestors wouldn't have had words for it. The erasure is what's new. #TIERs#WeDeyPARA #AfricaDeyPARA #EqualRightsForAll
The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs)
Non-profit Organizations
Atiba Osbourne street , Lagos State 1,100 followers
A Nigeria-based not-for-profit organisation working to create a society where human rights are guaranteed for everyone.
About us
The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs) is a Nigeria-based registered non-for-profit organisation working to create a society where human rights are guaranteed regardless of status, identity, orientation and affiliation. We exist to protect, uphold and promote the rights and humanity of all Nigerians through advocacy, empowerment, education, and the provision of safe platforms of convergence. We were founded in 2005 as a response to the discrimination and marginalisation of sexual minorities in both HIV prevention programming, human rights protection, advocacy, and mainstream human rights work.
- Website
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https://theinitiativeforequalrights.org/
External link for The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs)
- Industry
- Non-profit Organizations
- Company size
- 11-50 employees
- Headquarters
- Atiba Osbourne street , Lagos State
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 2005
- Specialties
- Human Rights & Advocacy, Research , Legal Representation & Pralegal Support, Sexual Health Education, and Sensitisation & Skill Empowerment
Locations
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Primary
Get directions
Alade Street
Atiba Osbourne street
Atiba Osbourne street , Lagos State, NG
Employees at The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs)
Updates
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Today marks International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexphobia and Transphobia. The 2026 theme is At the Heart of Democracy. At The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs), we think about that theme through a practical lens. Strong civic societies are built on inclusion. When entire groups of people are excluded from legal protection, from public life, from the simple right to be safe, it does not only harm those individuals. It weakens the institutions meant to serve everyone. Nigeria. Africa. The world. The work of building genuinely democratic societies requires us to ask honestly: who is still left out? We have been asking that question since 2005. We will keep asking it. #IDAHOBIT2026 #EqualRightsForAll #WeDeyPARA #AfricaDeyPARA
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The Initiative for Equal Rights is hiring for multiple roles: 1. Finance Associate 2. Legal Associate 3. Monitoring and Evaluation Associate 4. SOGIESC-Based Human Rights Violations Responder Application deadline is May 18th, 2026. Click the link in bio to copy the link below to learn more and apply: https://tr.ee/6qZMCcPD_i
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We're asking clients at both the clinic and community centre to share what's working, what's not, and what we can do better. Take 2 minutes to fill out the survey - bit.ly/4f1ZYok or tap the link in our bio. Your feedback helps us serve you better.
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We’re proud to see Afolabi Aiyela, Executive Director The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs), represent us at the GIZ Nigeria & ECOWAS Symposium on Rule of Law, Human Security, and Accountability in Abuja. Gatherings like this matter not only for the conversations they enable, but for the regional alignment they help build around what justice should look like in practice. Across discussions, one message remains consistent: access to justice is not experienced equally. For many people, particularly marginalized communities across West Africa, justice systems are still shaped by structural barriers, power imbalances, and gaps in accountability. At TIERs, this reality is central to our work. We continue to advance rights-based, gender-responsive approaches that challenge systemic inequality and strengthen access to justice for those most often excluded. Engagements like this reaffirm the importance of sustained collaboration across government, civil society, and regional institutions in pushing forward a more inclusive and accountable justice architecture. #RuleOfLaw #HumanSecurity #AccessToJustice
Last week, I had the privilege of representing The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs) at the Symposium on Rule of Law, Human Security and Accountability: Intersecting Gender and Access to Justice in the ECOWAS Region in Abuja. My appreciation goes to the ECOWAS Commission, GIZ Nigeria & ECOWAS, and the ECOWAS Peace, Security and Governance (EPSG) Project, co-funded by the European Union, for convening such a timely and critical platform. The symposium brought together an impressive network of stakeholders across government, civil society, and regional institutions to interrogate a pressing question: How do we build justice systems that are truly inclusive, accountable, and responsive, especially for women and marginalized communities? Across the conversations, it was clear that gaps in access to justice remain deeply gendered and systemic, human security and rule of law are inseparable from lived realities, and civil society has a critical role in driving accountability and reform. At TIERs, these are not abstract ideas. They are central to our work and mission. Engaging with partners across West Africa reaffirmed the importance of collaborative, intersectional approaches that center dignity, equity, and human rights. Grateful for the opportunity to contribute, learn, and connect. The work continues, and so does our commitment. #RuleOfLaw #HumanSecurity #AccessToJustice #GenderEquality #ECOWAS #HumanRights #TIERs
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The Initiative for Equal Rights invites qualified HR/Policy experts to develop a Workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Handbook. Application deadline is March 17th, 2026. TIERs seeks to collaborate with an experienced HR advisory firm or HR/Policy consultant with expertise in organizational development, workplace inclusion, and policy design. The selected consultant or HR firm will work closely with the TIERs team to design and produce a comprehensive and practical workplace Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Handbook targeted at employers and HR professionals in Nigeria. Click the link below to learn more and apply. https://lnkd.in/dYUKMHhk
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The Initiative for Equal Rights is hiring a Senior Communications and Advocacy Officer. Application deadline is March 5th, 2026. Click the link below to learn more and apply. https://lnkd.in/dCq2d7g2
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Human Rights aren't a pick-and-choose situation. When we are silent when they strip rights from marginalized communities, it means we support that nobody's rights actually matter. Today, it's them; tomorrow, it could be you. Chimdimma Ike (She/Her), our Director of Programmes, highlights why this fight affects every single Nigerian, not just the communities currently under attack.
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