The United Nations (UN) defines Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) as any gender-based act resulting in, or likely to result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women. In 1992, VAWG was formally recognised as a violation of human rights seen globally across social and economic classes in different forms, from intimate partner violence and sexual assault to child marriage, female genital mutilation and school-related gender-based violence. The prevalence of VAWG is alarming, with over a quarter of women aged 15-49 experiencing physical and sexual violence by an intimate partner globally. Gender inequality, perpetuated by harmful norms, serves as a key driver of VAWG. The impact of this violence extends beyond immediate physical harm, affecting women’s mental, sexual and reproductive health.
Regions like sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria and the Niger Delta grapple with unique challenges, emphasising the global and multifaceted nature of VAWG.
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In Nigeria, according to data by UNICEF, 31 per cent of women aged 15-49 have experienced physical violence, with six per cent occurring during pregnancy. In the Niger Delta, data from the Peace Map shows that over a five-year span from 2019 to September 2023, VAWG exhibited a fluctuating pattern. Recording 78 incidents in 2019, the subsequent year saw a reduction to 41 incidents but with persistent high fatalities at 31. A notable surge occurred post COVID-19 in 2021, with 110 incidents and 70 fatalities, while 2022 witnessed 138 incidents and a decrease in fatalities to 26. As of September 2023, 81 were recorded for incidents, with 17 fatalities.
Small problems can rapidly escalate into significant challenges if left unattended. Similarly, with VAWG, ignoring early signs and neglecting to combat the root causes of violence perpetuates a cycle that affects the immediate victims, contributing to broader issues and complexities. These small and collective efforts of the group can be potent agents of positive change. The ripple effect illustrates that a small action can set off a series of expanding consequences. The collective action, like individual efforts, is key to ending VAWG, and has been seen to be more impactful.
Efforts to combat VAWG have gained momentum, with the World Health Organisation (WHO), UN and other government and non-governmental organisations playing a pivotal role, addressing the issue. These organisations engage in research, capacity building, advocacy and sensitisation, aiming to address the problem. Despite the progress, challenges persist, signaling a growing need for sustained and innovative approaches towards combating VAWG. Collaborations involving the government, international organisations, civil society and grassroots communities, and other stakeholders such as law enforcement, legal aid services, health care organisations, public health programmes, educational institutions and agencies devoted to social services and economic development, all working to prevent and end VAWG.
The World Bank suggests the design and implementation of interventions that target VAWG at multiple levels simultaneously, in which case effective interventions should be operationalised across all levels: individual, interpersonal, community, institutional, policy and laws. Likewise, the UN noted that mobilisation of grassroots organisations are pivotal in building trust, which is critical to VAWG prevention programmes. The UN also recommended that key stakeholders should collaborate to collect, collate and analyse data on physical and sexual violence disaggregated by sex and age group in the national health information system.
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The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) is working to promote peace and economic opportunity and implementation of activities to end VAWG. PIND has contributed to addressing Gender Based Violence (GBV) through the Peace Map, which has a special menu for tracking, analysing and reporting VAWG across all aspects of human security in the Niger Delta. PIND achieves this by mobilising collective action and actively engaging stakeholders to build their capacity, for increased commitment and awareness; towards the commemoration of global events like the International Women’s Day and the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. PIND also has data-driven advocacy activities of VAWG in the Niger Delta from the Peace Map. An example was the advocacy to stop the targeted killing of women and girls for ritualistic purposes in the Niger Delta, which brought together key stakeholders in Rivers State to address the issue.
Workable and sustainable initiatives are those that include a variety of actors, stakeholders and strategies required to address the issue, placing emphasis on prevention, supporting survivors, establishing robust legal frameworks, and recognising the crucial role of data and research in comprehending and combatting VAWG. As relevant agencies and organisations within the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large endeavour to enact comprehensive laws against violence, fortify preventive measures and champion women’s leadership, the collective efforts of diverse stakeholders stand as a cornerstone in actualising a region and country devoid of gender-based violence.
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When individuals and stakeholders in the Niger Delta engage in small, positive behaviours or contribute collectively to the cause of ending VAWG, they initiate a ripple of influence that can spread across communities and systems. The cumulative impact of these actions can create a wave of change, addressing VAWG issues at their roots for positive outcomes.
These modest efforts by individuals – women, men and community groups – targeted at ending VAWG; while not assuring us of an immediate stop to the violence, have that all-important ripple effect, which if sustained, through time, has the potential of enduring transformations. Encouraging and participating in collective endeavours in the Niger Delta region demonstrates the potential for collaborative resolution of the complex problem – VAWG.
Njoku, a Peace-building, Capacity Building Coordinator, at the PIND can be reached via [email protected]
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