By Ohioze Samdavis Imevbore
Violence against women in Nigeria is one of the biggest issues bedevilling the nation’s social and cultural structures. It has slowly morphed from taboo to taking centre stage in local and traditional discourse.
While it has come to the public consciousness, there is still a massive problem of domestic, sexual and child-based violence including forced child marriages, female genital mutilation and child pregnancies.
A UNFPA 2021 report stated that in Nigeria, 31% of women have experienced physical violence at some point in their lives since they turned 15 years old. This tracks with the global estimates of 35% of women who have also experienced a form of physical or sexual violence in their lifetimes. 1 out of every 5 teenage girls in Nigeria has begun childbearing according to the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey.
It also states that female genital mutilation has been experienced by 14% of women between the ages of 15-19 and 31% of women between the ages of 45-49. These facts paint a picture of gender inequality and the prevalence of dangerous beliefs that could adversely affect women across the country.All forms of violence and abuse against women have negative effects on women and their ability to play pivotal roles in socio-economic development.
Women who have been physically or sexually abused tend to become withdrawn and less likely to speak out about their experiences for fear of being ostracised. They are less likely to go to school or get jobs.
They are more likely to suffer from sexually transmitted diseases, viral infections and even mental breakdown. If they are not properly cared for, they sometimes accept abuse as a norm and become complicit in future acts of violence against other women.
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which was held in 1995, had a target to end gender inequality and promote the rights of women around the world. 29 years on, it has become even more pressing in countries like Nigeria to invest more resources in education, sensitisation, mobilisation and protection of vulnerable women, especially in the Northern parts of Nigeria where progress has been slowed by insecurity from insurgent fundamentalist groups who trade in kidnapping and selling women and children.
These groups frown on education and women’s rights so they actively suppress the female population under their control.Another leading cause of gender-based violence against women is climate change. Due to the droughts, flooding and sudden changes in weather patterns, women in rural communities are put through unbearable circumstances to get access to good food and clean water.
They are taken advantage of or even married off to provide economic benefits for their families. They work menial jobs in hazardous conditions and are paid slave wages. This makes them even more desperate and more willing to accept violence to get economic benefits.The multifaceted nature of the problems bedevilling the Nigerian woman needs a more sophisticated approach to ensure that they are tackled head-on.
At the 68th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68), the data from over 40 developing countries showed that over $360 billion per year is needed to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment. If Nigeria dedicates 1% of that to the emancipation of women, we would greatly impact the fight against inequality, especially gender-based violence.
Education of men andwomen in communities is a key factor that could greatly influence the receptiveness of locals to the initiatives aimed at ending dangerous anti-women practices. Targeted programs that focus on educating men, religious leaders, traditional rulers and local leaders would go a long way in building spheres of influence that promote gender equality.We also need to fund the legal experts and volunteers that help victims of violence seek justice or rehabilitation.
There are more victims than there are trained professionals who can take care of them. Initiatives that drive funding of primary health care centres, safe houses and human rights lawyers would rank highest on my list of immediate measures to be taken.The government of Nigeria must empower the Ministry of Women Affairs to engage with these issues and push for more laws that protect women in every part of the country.While countries grapple with meeting the targets set in the Beijing Declaration of 1995, we will continue to advocate for Nigeria to take more deliberate steps to see that violence against women ends and gender equality is normalised.
Written by Ohioze Samdavis Imevbore