ASF France, an international human rights organization, has reported that 82 Nigerian women are currently on death row in various correctional facilities across the country.

Angela Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, the Country Director of ASF France in Nigeria, made this disclosure on Wednesday during a capacity-building session in Abuja focused on gender issues in the application of the death penalty.

She noted that this figure represents one of the highest numbers of women on death row in sub-Saharan Africa.

“We strongly believe that these women, who are often neglected and forgotten because they are behind bars and facing the death penalty, deserve to have their voices heard and their unique circumstances highlighted,” she said.

Uzoma-Iwuchukwu emphasized that gender issues are deeply intertwined with capital punishment. “Although it is often portrayed as neutral, the death penalty is not. Gender biases permeate the criminal justice system, starting from arrest, through conviction, and even during incarceration of women facing capital punishment,” she explained.

She added that many of the women on death row are victims of domestic violence, and when their reactions lead to homicide, the justice system frequently fails to recognize their victimhood.

“What we see in practice is that they face further violence and discrimination within the system. These women are often punished not only for their alleged crimes but also for being women who dared to act,” she said.

Poverty is another critical factor, she noted. “Many cannot afford legal representation, and the quality of defense often determines whether someone ends up on death row.”

Uzoma-Iwuchukwu cited a case from Katsina State, where a young woman was sentenced to death by stoning for becoming pregnant out of wedlock. Through ASF France’s intervention, the Court of Appeal overturned her sentence. “The only evidence against her was that she got pregnant outside marriage, but there was no investigation into who was responsible,” she said.

She called for a moratorium on executions and urged that women who have experienced gender-based violence should be treated as victims and given fair consideration during sentencing.

Dr. Chioma Kanu, Executive Director of Mothers and Marginalised Advocacy Centre, highlighted the human impact of the system, noting that “every inmate has a mother, wife, daughter, or sister who suffers when justice fails.”

She added, “Not every death row inmate is guilty. Some are convicted based on confessions extracted under police torture or cannot afford legal representation. Remember, we can release an innocent prisoner, but we cannot bring back the dead.”

Dr. Kanu stressed the need for justice for victims and security for families.