Hauwa Ibrahim
Hauwa Ibrahim Esq., a lawyer, author and mother, is in her sixth year at Harvard University. Prior to joining Harvard Divinity School as a Visiting lecturer, Ibrahim was a Radcliffe Fellow and a jointly appointed Fellow of the Human Rights Program and the Islamic Legal Studies Program.
Hauwa Ibrahim was born in the rural village of Hinnah, in Northern Nigeria's Gombe State. There she was ingrained with values that have strengthened her life's journey and resolve. Her life journey took her from a simpler village life that included household chores such as carrying water and firewood, to State supported girls' education, and eventually to train as a lawyer. She is acutely aware of the importance of education in the empowerment of women.
When Sharia law was introduced in 12 northern Nigerian states from 1999, Ibrahim began to build up what can only be described as an extraordinary practice, representing women condemned to death by stoning for adultery and children to limb amputation for theft, amongst others. She defended, pro bono, over 150 cases, saving the lives of Amina Lawal, Safiya Hussaini, Hafsatu Abubakar and many others. Initially, as a woman, she could not speak in the Shariah court or address a judge directly, but now she is the "go to" lawyer when people need representation in such cases.
Women HRDs face serious challenges especially in certain areas of the country including the Northern states, where Sharia law is applied, the South-East and South-West, where traditional practices and customs are stronger. The work of women HRDs in those areas focuses primarily on such issues as polygamy, child marriage, inheritance and female genital mutilation. Religious groups and traditional communities often distrust organisations working on women's rights.
