Louisa Ntaji
Louisa (she/her/hers) contributes to the research, drafting, publication, and dissemination of human rights reports and submissions to UN and regional human rights mechanisms, as well as workshop and training curricula, fact sheets, and other materials. She supports engagement with current and former clients of the Refugee and Immigrant Program who have expressed interest in international human rights advocacy, as well as outreach to other lived experience experts as needed. Furthermore, she is involved in training and building relationships with global human rights defenders through networks and coalitions such as the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty. Additionally, she assists with supervising, training, and coordinating work assignments for both remote and in-person volunteers and interns.
Her projects include preparing shadow reports on human rights violations, such as the execution of foreign nationals in Saudi Arabia, the rights of LGBT persons in Mongolia, the human rights situation in Guinea Conakry, and reproductive health access in Turkmenistan. She contributed to a report in response to the call for input from the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights regarding human rights violations in Sudan. She also supported the drafting process for an amicus brief submitted to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the incompatibility of the death penalty with the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Additionally, she has drafted and pre-recorded oral statements for submission to the UN Human Rights Council and coordinated lobbying efforts by drafting targeted emails and preparing advocacy materials such as one-pagers.
Louisa is motivated by a deep commitment to justice, human dignity, and the power of advocacy to create meaningful change. Her work in human rights is driven by a passion for amplifying marginalized voices, challenging systemic injustices, and contributing to global efforts that protect fundamental freedoms. Coming from a background that has exposed her to both the struggles and resilience of individuals affected by human rights violations, she believes in using her legal expertise to push for accountability, reform, and the protection of vulnerable communities.
Louisa entered the field of human rights as a Legal Assistant and later as a Legal Researcher at the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) in The Gambia. In these roles, she conducted legal research to support the Commission’s protection and promotion mandates, drafted decisions on admissibility and merits, monitored human rights developments in Africa, and prepared urgent appeals, reports, and discussion papers.
Louisa earned an LL.M. in Human Rights and Democratization in Africa from the University of Pretoria in December 2019. Her dissertation focused on the right to access healthcare for internally displaced children in Nigeria. She also earned an LL.M. at the University of Minnesota Law School in May 2024. While at Minnesota, she was a member of the Black Identifying International Students Association and the Black Law Students Association. Louisa is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association.
Publications
2020: Human Rights Preparedness, an initiative launched by the Global Campus of
Human Rights: Mitigating the impact of Covid-19 on HIV Responses in Africa [view blog post here]
2024: Navigating Limits: Examining the European Court of Human Rights Interpretation of Religious Freedom within educational institutions
