VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN Introduction Women rights violation have been the most disturbing trend of our time. Each day we wake up to horrific headlines like: “husband kills wife”, “father rapes daughter”, “man marries 10 year old”, “women belong to the kitchen”, and other obnoxious news about women. Even more terrifying is government's insensitivity to this menace despite its grave consequences on women, the community and the country at large. Advocates nationwide have organized to expose and surmount this peril, but the effort seems incommensurate with the scale of the problem. It is thus crucial to promptly analyze the need for standards in facilitating the rights of women. In most societies, women subserve five key functions: mother, producer, home-manager, community organizer and socio-political activist.2 In spite of these invaluable roles played by women, it is heart-wrenching to know that they have become perpetual victims of abuse, assault, utter disdain, and blatant brutality. These occur for myriad reasons; few of which include: historical gender inequality, religious and socio-cultural norms, illiteracy, economic power imbalance, government insensitivity, to mention a few. 3 Domestic violence, otherwise known as intimate partner violence (IPV), is “the willful intimidation, physical or sexual assault, battery, or use of other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another.” Shameful as it may sound, this is the most prevalent form WRV in Nigeria. The World Health Organization (WHO, 2002) observed that almost a third of the women population have experienced physical violence, and more so, it accounts for more death and disability among women aged 15 to 44. than cancer, malaria, traffic accidents, and even war. Moreover, cutting of the female external genitalia for non-medical reasons is another WRV widely perpetrated in Nigeria. In spite of the extensive anti-FGM campaigns nationwide, this harmful practice has continued unabated, putting our national prevalence at 27 percent; among women aged 15 to 49.10 Justification for global condemnation of this practice lies in its attendant grievous complications; few of which include: reproductive tract infections, infertility, obstetric fistula, postpartum hemorrhage and death. More challenging and perhaps, most embarrassing of all WRV in Nigeria is sexual assault. This, according to the United States Department of Justice, is “any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient.” Although these abominable acts are widely perpetrated, most cases go unreported due to outright shame, humiliation, stigmatization, insensitivity and inaction suffered in the hands of medical authorities, criminal justice system, as well as the society. Another fundamental human right violation particularly endemic in northern Nigeria is child marriage. By international conventions, the legal age of consent to marriage is age 18.15 However, statistics revealed that 43 percent of girls in Nigeria are married off before age 18, and 17 percent of them before age 15.16 In most cases, these children are deprived of education, health and opportunities, and are trapped in the cycle of poverty and unending violence. Panaceas and Prospects Considering the magnitude of this problem and its abysmal consequences, there is an urgent need for more proactivity and concerted solidarity in the quest to abate it. Since men perpetrate over 95 percent of these violent acts,17 it will be promising to involve them in the planning and execution of all intervention strategies. General The most important steps toward eliminating VAW in Nigeria are strong political will and practical, proactive actions. The Federal Government should, as a matter of urgency, collaborate with houses of assembly across the country to ensure the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) bill, passed into law in May 2015, and other related federal legislations are domesticated in all 36 states of the federation.18 It should demonstrate its total commitment to this course by dedicating substantial fund to it in its annual budget plan, and ensuring its appropriate disbursement. Furthermore, government should break the culture of impunity by ensuring its criminal justice system prosecute and punish all perpetrators of violence as stipulated by law. Achieving these will, among others, afford advocates and activists a stronger platform to operate, and drastically reduce the prevalence of VAW. Another promising panacea is awareness raising and public enlightenment on all forms of VAW. Local and international Anti-VAW organizations, governmental and non-governmental, should partner with faith-based organizations to organize seminars and symposia, primarily at the grassroots, to denounce VAW, give information on available legislations, and how to get support. Through the media, weekly television and radio programs, bill boards, websites, and social media groups should be created to educate the masses on various forms of VAW. Also, punishments given to perpetrators should be publicized, via these media, so as to deter others. Similarly, the annual 16 days of activism against gender-based violence should be explored to intensify the campaign; through public lectures, community outreaches, survivor talks, film shows, essays, debates etcetera. Moreover, the task to eliminate VAW would be incomplete without achieving gender equality. Efforts must be invested into eradicating all forms of discrimination against women, and encouraging their full participation in politics. This will upgrade them from the prior 'inferior status', and promote their involvement in decision-making on human rights issues, especially on those pertaining to women and children. Specific Domestic Violence Public enlightenment should entail basing all relationships on real emotional connection, and red flags during courtship should not be ignored. Also, premarital counseling should be mandated for all intending couples. To reduce actual cases, domestic violence hotline, via which women can report and get emergency support should be provided; also, helplines for professional couple counseling and victim follow-up should be available. Moreover, health care professionals should advance from mere treating victims to routine inquiry about, and reporting cases of violence; as provided by the American Medical Association. Not only will achieving these break the age-long conspiracy of silence, but will further entrench gender equality. Furthermore, women empowerment is another area of priority in eliminating IPV. This will enhance women access to assets and decent employment that enable them prevent and escape abusive relationships and exploitative situations. Child Marriage Since this is mainly rooted in poverty, government should promote women economic security, and invest in education of the girl child. Education, especially if quality, safe, girl-friendly and accessible, is highly likely to keep girls unmarried until age 18. The following chart gives a succinct summary of the relationship. FGM Awareness raising should emphasize the danger and undesirability of the procedure, and mythify their beliefs about the practice. Moreover, government should reach out to members of the Circumcision Descendants Association of Nigeria (CDAN) to end the harmful tradition, and create alternative economic opportunities for them. Sexual Assault In addition to interventions discussed under general panacea, women should be encouraged to take self-defense classes, and maintain high level of decency and vigilance. Conclusion From cradle to grave, women are potential victims of violence in its diverse forms; from genital cutting to child marriage, rape, domestic violence and widowhood rights. This mishap, though deep-rooted in socio-cultural norms and gender inequality, was further complicated by government's tolerance and inaction. Thus, there is need for strong political will as well as multisectoral collaboration if eliminating VAW and its consequences, stated as our aim, is to be achieved. Finally, just as Samantha Power submitted: “Violence against women isn't cultural, it's criminal. Equality cannot come eventually; it's something we must fight for now.”23
