“Justice begins the moment someone who feels powerless discovers that the law can still work for them.”
Anita husband abandoned her and their children without providing financial support, she was left to shoulder the burden of caring for the family alone. With limited resources and few options for seeking help, the situation placed significant strain on her household. Like many women in similar circumstances, Anita initially had little access to mechanisms that could help address the issue or hold her husband accountable.
The turning point came when Anita learned about the Community Support Platform (CSP), a community structure established Partners West Africa Nigeria – PWAN to help community members report grievances and access support. Encouraged by the presence of this local structure, she reported her case through the CSP representative in Argungu.
In response, PWAN’s mobilised lawyers worked in collaboration with Hisbah officials to invite Anita husband for questioning. During the engagement, the husband admitted to abandoning his family. PWAN’s lawyers explained the legal implications of neglecting his responsibilities and emphasised his obligation to provide for the welfare of his wife and children.
Under the supervision of PWAN lawyers at the Hisbah office, the husband wrote and signed a written undertaking committing to resume full responsibility for his family. In Anita story lies not only in the husband’s renewed commitment but also in the accessibility of justice that made the resolution possible.
Through the CSP and PWAN’s intervention, a situation that might have remained unresolved within the community was addressed through dialogue, legal guidance, and accountability. PWAN continues to monitor the case to ensure compliance, reinforcing the message that community-based justice mechanisms can play a vital role in protecting vulnerable families and promoting responsibility within households.
