.jpeg "Concerned parties call for tough action in response to the increase in occurrences of gender-based violence.")
This is in spite of the efforts of international organizations, civil society organizations, and rights advocates.
SGBV leaves victims traumatized and many are afraid to speak up, taking the form of female genital mutilation, underage marriage, sexual assault, and even physical abuse.
Additionally, cultural practices like child marriage and female genital mutilation aren't helping the situation.
According to a 2019 survey by the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics, 30% of Nigerian women between the ages of 15 and 49 claimed having suffered physical violence, while a startling 68 percent said they had endured emotional, financial, and sexual abuse.
Additionally, Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, disclosed that just 111 cases of SGBV were reported in the second quarter of 2023, namely between April and June.
The police official said that 14 rape and 56 cases of domestic violence were similarly documented over the period, with roughly 99 suspects already charged to court, and expressed the Command's concern about the growing number of defilement cases in the state.
"Roughly 83 instances are currently being looked into, demonstrating the Command's dedication to pursuing all allegations of domestic and gender-based violence in Lagos State.
Idowu Owohunwa, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, "is an indication of his commitment to dealing decisively with the gender-based violence perpetrators" by remodeling the Command's gender unit, he added.
He emphasized that more policemen had been hired and trained in the unit in order to enhance the unit's investigations into cases of gender-based violence.
Additionally, he exhorted the populace to always report abuse or instances of gender and sexual assault, assuring them that the police will always act to defend their rights.
Last week, UNICEF's deputy representative for programs, Rownak Khan, paid a courtesy visit to the minister of women's affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, to express UNICEF's support for the fight against SGBV and highlight the scourge's effects on society.
Ohaeri Joseph, the minister's media aide, stated that Khan's visit was intended to inform the minister of the dangers and exploitations that children in Nigeria face as well as to provide an update on the Women Affairs Ministry's legal responsibility to advance the rights and general welfare of women and children while enabling them to reach their full potential, including the revolutionary initiatives currently being carried out in partnership with UNICEF to improve children's lives.
Specifically focusing on legal and programming frameworks, service delivery, capacity strengthening, evidence building, digital transformation, coordination, and partnerships, Khan added that the global organization has organized areas of priorities to run between 2023 and 2024.
She stated that between 2018 and 2022, there are likely to be well over 122,968 youngsters in detention institutions across Nigeria's 26 states, including 5,558 girls and 117,410 males, according to a national survey to acquire administrative statistics. He emphasized that in order to protect their rights and give them access to high-quality response services, the alleged offenders and survivors of violence needed specialized services that were age- and gender-sensitive.
She listed the states, including Lagos, Ebonyi, Cross Rivers, Adamawa, and Sokoto, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, where incidences of sexual and gender-based violence, such as female genital mutilation and child marriage, are highly widespread.
She claims that child marriages are common in Sokoto, Katsina, Jigawa, Kano, Yobe, and Borno States while female genital mutilations are common in Ebonyi, Imo, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Rivers, Ondo, and Kwara States. In order to investigate and resolve sexual and gender-based violence, female genital mutilation, and child marriage, she underlined the necessity for robust institutional frameworks and enforcement capabilities.
The Minister applauded the UN organization for persevering in its efforts to enhance the welfare of women and children in Nigeria.
She stated that despite the fact that there have been several global experiences with sexual and gender-based violence as well as other related societal vices, the Nigerian context needs to be reviewed and technical assistance must be provided to correspond with her unique circumstances.
She reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to pursuing a vigorous counteroffensive against female genital mutilation and mentioned that protocols were being developed, including the use of mobile courts to try and punish offenders as well as whistleblowers, neighborhood-based awareness campaigns, media involvement, and inquiry.
She pledged to transform local women's gatherings into cooperative societies so that the women would have greater economic opportunities to assist their spouses and significantly contribute to the growth of the nation.
Additionally, the Lux Terra Foundation is a nongovernmental organization that is leading the struggle against SGBV. In order to examine and address SGBV-related issues, which are currently taking on a scary and unsettling dimension in society, it is collaborating with the Christian community in Lagos and Ogun States.
According to Mrs. Helen Ebhomielen of the Lux Terra Foundation, SGBV refers to any act, whether in public or private life, that causes or is likely to cause physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women or men. This includes threats of such acts, coercion, or the arbitrary deprivation of liberty. She urged societal reforms and other adjustments that could get rid of SGBV and other types of prejudice against women and girls.
She bemoaned the fact that young girls who are brought from rural to urban regions to live with relatives are frequently mistreated, and the families cover up the mistreatment to "protect" their families' reputations.Young girls who are transported to the city by relatives are forced to work as maids and endure a variety of hardships. Because they are stigmatized, these kids are afraid to speak up about their terrible living situations. Many young women, including those who are married, are quietly dying.
"The days of leaving your kids with an uncle or a brother are long gone because these uncles and brothers, who are supposed to protect the kids, end up abusing and caressing the young ladies for their own amusement. Family members frequently remain silent in order to preserve the family's reputation without taking into account the harm these behaviors do to children or their detrimental effects on society as a whole, she said.
She stated that in addition to female genital mutilation and child marriage, other instances of sexual violence against women and girls (SGBV) include rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and intimidation in homes, workplaces, and educational facilities, among other places, as well as forced prostitution, physical, sexual, and psychological violence.
Regarding what victims should do, she emphasized that young women and girls who have experienced such abuse could contact Lux Terra and other organizations that support the abolition of violence against women and children. Because he believes he paid the wife's bride price, some husbands have been reported to have beaten and raped their wives. Men like this say things like, "Didn't I pay your bride price?" You don't have the right to refuse me sex because I own you.
According to Mrs. Adeola Onasanya, societies where male superiority is accepted as the norm have higher rates of SGBV.
"If a woman gets into an argument with her husband and he slaps her, society holds him accountable," she declared. Even when a woman is arguing with her husband, society expects her to be quiet. Society regards a lady who hits her spouse during an argument as rude.
"The husband's infidelity is not punishable. If and when he chooses, the husband has the right to kick his wife out of the marital house. While a man who cheats is not punished, a woman who is caught must undertake cleaning.
"The wife is blamed by society if the husband is not successful. The wife is held responsible by society if she is not wealthy. Society blames the wife when a marriage fails and the wife when a family fails to raise their children well.
She added that another problem is gender stereotyping and the notion that women should perform particular domestic duties.
"The wife is responsible for taking care of the home and the kids whether she works or not. The husband is not required to handle household responsibilities.
"When a widow marries again after a year, society encourages him to go on, but when a widow marries again, society accuses her of killing her spouse or assumes that she was sleeping around even before he passed away.
"The wife would be guilty if a man died inexplicably and she refused to drink the bathwater," she remarked.
She also emphasized that tradition's role in reducing the status of women in society contributes to SGBV.
She cited the Igbo culture, where it is said that "Onye nwe nwanyi nwe ihe ya," which means that whomever owns a woman owns her belongings, and the Hausa culture, where the saying "Mata Dangin Shaidan," which means that women are near cousins of the devil or allies of the devil, is common.
In his contribution to the discussion, Rev. Fr. Clement Ashade, Parish Priest of St Peter's Catholic Church, Igamode Road, emphasized the importance of women understanding that if they are mistreated or assaulted and remain silent, no one will speak up for them.
We have remained silent long enough, he replied. Stop hiding things to preserve the good name of the family; if you tell one person, others will find out.
Prof. Taiwo Abioye of the Lux Terra Leadership Foundation bemoaned the fact that women are frequently the targets of abuse and violence of various kinds because such behavior is accepted in African societies.
"A young woman's mother will just reprimand her and tell her to return to her husband's home when she complains to her about the beating she endures at the hands of her husband.
Do you know how many times your father has physically abused me? some mothers have even asked. Because of one slap, you're whining, she said.
Abioye, who is also a research professor of English, pointed out that although SGBV offenders frequently do not intend to kill, their actions have led to numerous fatalities.
"SGBVs in any form should be avoided. Fear should be eliminated among women because some prey who remained silent when they were attacked have already perished. Women should cease oppressing other women as well because another woman will be the one to tell you to shave your head.
"Education is a different strategy for battling SGBV. Early rights education is important for parents to provide for their kids. Because they are too busy to listen to their children and recognize when they are stigmatized as a result of rape and abuse, parents have grossly failed, according to the speaker.
But she wants women to speak up and realize that any sort of violence against them cannot be justified and cannot be tolerated.