Information about Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN)
Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria is the foremost Nigerian advocacy non-governmental organization founded on January 11, 1993 to deal with environmental human rights issues and for the protection of the environment and the democratization of development in Nigeria. ERA is the Nigerian chapter of Friends of the Earth International (FoEI), the world environmental justice federation of over 75 autonomous members from 75 countries of the world campaigning to protect the environment and to create sustainable societies.
ERA had hosted and coordinated the Oilwatch International, the Africa Tobacco Control Regional Initiative (ATCRI), the Nigerian Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) and is still the host of Green Alliance Nigeria (GAN).
The organization’s committed struggles for environmental human rights has won it recognition through awards such as Sophie Prize (1998) for excellence and courage in the struggle for environmental Justice and the Bloomberg Award for Tobacco control activism (2009) among others.
ERA belongs to a number of National coalitions and networks working in the areas of transparency and accountability, electoral reforms and peoples oriented budgeting among others. ERA’s Democracy Outreach Programme is dedicated to working with policy makers to effect policy change for the good of society. In this regard ERA collaborates with the Nigeria’s National Assembly and other relevant institutions in the making of policies and bills especially those that are essential for arresting the spate of environmental degradation, protection of the environment, and the promotion of sustainable livelihoods.
ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS
Article 24 of the African charter of Human and Peoples’ Right states that:
“All people shall have a right to (a) generally satisfactory environment favorable to their development.” ERA’s philosophy is anchored on this.