GENDER BASED VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA, CAUSES, EFFECTS AND WAY FORWARD

[A Public Presentation by Farouk Ozigi Onimisi during a CDS meeting of Bwari Area Council, FCT, Abuja].

30th September, 2021

Introduction

Over the years, the world has experienced series of challenges in its quest for growth, peace and unity. Bearing this in mind, it is of great importance to outline the fact that evidence to this is the continuous increase of the world’s crime rate which includes rape. 

Gender-based violence (GBV) is ubiquitous, but still the least human right violation in the globe. GBV is one faced by different communities and countries, but its crucial effects are global. 

In a broad sense, Gender-Based Violence is one with many forms such as domestic violence, child marriage, female genital mutilation, partner violence and sexual assault (rape). These forms of violence are faced by both men and women, though it is most common in women and highly reported, under-reported for men (Tade & Udechukwu, 2020).

Gender Based Violence in Nigeria

Nigeria has long been facing a gender-based violence crisis, with 30% of women and girls aged 15-49 having experienced sexual abuse. Lack of coordination amongst key stakeholders and poor implementation of legal frameworks, combined with entrenched gender discriminatory norms has hampered government and civil society efforts to address gender-based violence. 

Essentially, the incidence of Gender Based Violence (GBV) is growing astronomical with the activities of the insurgency in the North East. From forced and early marriages to the physical, mental or sexual assault on a woman, nearly 3 in 10 Nigerian women have experienced physical violence by age 15 (NDHS, 2013).

As a largely patriarchal culture, Africa has customs and traditions, since days of yore that has endured and advanced rape culture paying little heed to the communities behind these cultures. A case of this is the marriage custom called Ukuthwala practiced in Nguni community in South Africa. In this custom, a youngster within the age of marriage would kidnap a woman or a girl compelling her family to endorse the marriage and start an arrangement.

A similar custom is practiced in Ethiopia, Kenya and Rwanda. These communities have restricted kidnappers having sex with captured women, but the boycott is not constantly observed. In many cases, the women are frequently raped to compel the hand of the bride and family into accepting the marriage (Waweru, 2018). 

In some communities in Africa, the female survivors of rape are viewed as miscreants and are regularly rebuffed in various manners which incorporate wedding their rapist or even put to death. A case of this is in Somaliland, where the rape survivors are compelled to wed their rapist to dodge disgrace and shame to their families.

However, a historic law was passed in 2018 that would see offenders spend at least, 20 years in jail for such crime. It additionally made the punishment for any individual who neglects to report such crimes. 

The scourge of rape in Nigeria is one that has been going on for quite a while and has been disregarded, regularly kept covertly as a result of ingrained man-centric sex generalisation, social norms, religion and media portrayal that see women as sex object and discourage open sex conversations and denounce women who set out to revolt against their victimisation. 

In Nigeria, from accessible statistics, mostly women and girls experience sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

Factors Advancing Gender Based Violence in Nigeria

Early history showed that the relegation of women to the second class status dates back to several centuries ago and the human society has been a male dominated one. The Arabian society for instance, regards the birth of a female child as a shame, disgrace and treats them as such. While on the other hands, the birth of a male child is welcomed with jubilations, and celebrations in other societies. 

In Nigeria, especially the southern geo-political zone, the birth of a male child excites members of the family than a female child. Therefore, gender based violence results from biological differentiation of sexes. 

Stereotypical Roles

Females are biologically and physically perceived as the weaker sex who requires considerable protection by men. As the girl child passes through the stages of development, she is bewildered. Gender based violence has been a serious problem in most societies throughout history. Women in Nigeria like their counterparts in other parts of the world, suffer gender based violence irrespective of age, class religion or social status. The cause is the image created by the society which portrays a man to be viewed as being strong, educated, creative, and clever while a woman is the opposite of all these traits. 

The way parents bring up their children, which create disparity between boys and girls, also is a source of gender-based violence in later life. When a boy grows up, knowing that he is not supposed to wash his own clothes, cook or help in the house, if he grows up and gets married to a woman who comes from a home where duties are equally shared between girls and boys, this can create tension that might lead to violence. 

Physical Powers

Another cause of gender based violence against women in Nigeria is the belief that boys are stronger than girls and so are trained to accept more strenuous tasks like hunting, shooting with bows and arrows, farming and fighting back enemies that are about to out- run their communities. 

On the other hand, girl child is stereotyped to perform simpler tasks like sweeping the rooms, scrubbing the walls and collecting firewood to cook for the family so that they can become good wives and mothers in future. 

Additionally, women in Nigeria are excluded from rigorous traditional activities like tree climbing (e.g. climbing palm tree) or other traditional sports like wrestling, canoeing, and horse-back riding which were exclusively made for men.

Women were reserved with lighter recreational activities and as well allowed to watch the men and cheer them up. This cultural unequal power led to domination, violence, and discrimination against women by men; consequently preven women’s full advancement.

Other causes of gender based violence are financial insecurity, poverty, childlessness, unemployment and environmental factor (surrounding influences). Dwindled love relationship, nagging on the part of the women, infidelity, and impotency of the man all contribute to gender based violence.

Recommendations

There is high need to raise awareness on gender-based violence and the various mechanisms that are in place for redress. 

It is critical for the government through the Ministry of Women Affairs, Gender and Community Development, to have strategies for first of all, engaging in open discussions on the role that they could play in reducing gender-based violence, protecting victims of violence and creating spaces for discussions. 

The government should also create a vital database that will be able to track the perpetrators of rape. The vital database should contain vital information like fingerprints, health details, address, etc. of every citizen in the country, so that when evidence gotten from the scene are collected, it can be compared to that of the perpetrator. Also, this will help the victim in building a case in the court.

Generally, there are many direct and in-direct players on gender-based violence prevention issues, but what is missing are clear strategies for pooling resources together, strengthening coordination and reaching out to the vulnerable groups in rural areas.

Gender-based violence is complex and by having coordinated effort by government, civil society and the private sector, more can actually be done.

As the country’s legislators continue to deliberate on the new rape law, it is essential for the lawmakers to make provision for free counseling of rape victims, free administration of PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) and confidential health care.

Free reproductive health services are required for victims where pregnancy is involved. These are medical and psychology therapies that are necessary to aid the recovery process of the victims. In order to do this effectively, measures should be taken to address the stereotypes extended towards victims of sexual violence in the Nigerian society and the criminal justice system of the country. Research suggests that societal belief in rape myths perpetuates.

If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that the hosts of heaven and earth will say, 'l"here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well."

Thanks most sincerely for the recognition accorded me in the presentation. Nigeria is ours! Nigeria we serve!!