About The Intersociety
The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of (InterSociety) was founded by Emeka Umeagbalasi and launched in July 2008. The launch of the Intersociety followed its successful registration at the Part C of Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission in April 2008. Since then, the intersociety has become a leading Democracy, Rule of Law, Fundamental Human Rights and Citizens’ Security and Safety Advocacy Voice in Nigeria and beyond. The Intersociety was brought into existence through inspirations and field advocacy experiences gathered by its Founder (Emeka Umeagbalasi) when he variously held sway as a top-notch grassroots Human Rights and Democracy Campaigner. Emeka Umeagbalasi who founded the Intersociety was inspired by the success stories of Amnesty International (UK), founded by Peter Benenson and his colleague in March 1961; Human Rights Watch (USA), founded in 1978 as “Helsinki Watch” by Robert L. Bernstein and two others; and Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Nigeria’s premier Human Rights and Pro-Democracy Group, founded in 1987 by Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, and others. Umeagbalasi, who later founded the Intersociety had become grassroots Human Rights and Democracy Campaigner in 1994 when he joined CLO as a volunteer member after which he held various positions in Nigeria’s Human Rights and Pro-Democracy movements including serving as Anambra CLO’s Campaign and Publicity Secretary, Vice Chairman and Chairman between 1997 and 2007. He later became the CLO’s Vice Chairman of the South-East Management Committee and had between 1996 and 1998 served as Onitsha Pre-Group Coordinator of Amnesty International and an Associate Member of Human Rights Watch (HRW), USA.
The Intersociety, since formation, has uncompromisingly campaigned for promotion, respect and advancement of Human Rights, Rule of Law, Democracy and Citizens’ Security and Safety in Nigeria or any part thereof. Our Human Rights advocacy jurisdiction also covers international borders or boundaries including stateless enclaves under UN System populated by at least 4.4m as at end of 2022 (UN Higher Commissioner for Refugees: 2023). Our Four Thematic Areas are: Democracy, Good and Accountable Governance; Fundamental Human Rights (civil liberties) and other UN recognized Human Rights; Rule of Law including periodic Judicial and Electoral justice and process reforms; and Citizens’ Security and Safety including Policing the Police and holding perpetrators accountable. The Intersociety is governed by an assemblage of powerful and mutually bonded group of experts drawn from key university disciplines including law, criminology, security studies, peace studies and conflict resolution; mass communications, etc., who freely, pricelessly, and willingly put together their respective expertise (“donated in-kind resources”) for purpose of ensuring democracy, rule of law, human rights and citizens’ security and safety-ruled society. The governance of the Intersociety is strictly within the framework of its Four Thematic Areas highlighted above. Our advocacy works are done using research, investigation, documentation, publications and raising of human rights, democracy, rule of law and citizens’ security and safety consciousness through campaigns. The Intersociety is ‘not-for-profit’ oriented and does not receive budgets and stolen public funds from any Government or its department or ministry and parastatal or an elected or appointed public office holder in Nigeria or any part thereof. In addition to our expertly pulled “in-kind resources”, we solicit for and receive donations, if given, from public spirited persons or group of persons for purpose of advancing our advocacy works; provided the purpose of such support or donation is not to undermine our leadership and advocacy works. Most of our advocacy works are ‘volunteer-based’ and coordinated by our team of ‘expert-volunteers’; as well as through ‘internship’ and ‘graduate assistantships’. We are ‘multiple merit awards’ winners and recipients of several local and international ‘Human Rights, Rule of Law, and Democracy Education Certificates’, etc.