Damian Ugwu

Damian Ugwu is the Regional Program Director for Africa at the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC). Described as one of the best human rights researchers in Nigeria by his peers, he holds a masters degree in international law and diplomacy. For the past 10 years he has held leadership roles and consulted with social justice organizations. Damian worked for seven years with Civil Liberties Organisation, Nigeria’s largest human rights group, as the Head of Police Project and the Head of Advocacy Program. Most recently Damian served as Director of the Social Justice Advocacy Initiative in Lagos, Nigeria. He has consulted with organizations including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the Open Society Justice Initiative. Damian has contributed to publications on the current state of human rights of Nigerians, including on the topics of torture, violence and impunity, extrajudicial killings and children’s rights. Damian has been an active member of the LGBTI rights movement in Nigeria, working with other activists to oppose attempts to introduce homophobic laws in the Nigerian parliament. He leads IGLHRC’s global advocacy and capacity strengthening work in Africa and is based in Johannesburg, South Africa.