Elimination of Sexual and Gender-based Violence Programmes

gender based violence

Lux Terra Leadership Foundation is engaged in a series of public education and awareness raising interventions, critical attitudinal and behavior change programmes and projects, as well as legal and policy advocacy mechanisms, to respond urgently and fittingly, especially within our faith communities and cultural settings, to what we have all come to recognize as an alarming degree of sexual and gender-based violence in Nigeria, and work with all sense of urgency and commitment towards preventing any further incidents of this menace.

  1. We have Gender-Based Violence (GBV), which in the understanding of many, covers not just violence against women and girls, but also all acts of violence, intimidation and discrimination against any person, on account of his or her gender.
  2. We have Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), which is exactly what it says. It looks at all forms and manifestations of violence – physical, psycho-emotional, social, economic, and structural, that women and girls often suffer in an environment of widespread toxic masculinity and an oppressive patriarchy.
  3. We have Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), which for all practical purposes, appears like a combination of the elements of GBV and VAWG. Those who choose this nomenclature often put a particularly heavy stress on such sexual offences as rape, sexual harassment, FGM, child sex trafficking, etc.
  4. We have Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), referring to violence at the hands of a husband (or wife), or between unmarried lovers.
  5. We have Domestic Violence (DV), referring to violence in the home. It may be between husband and wife, unmarried lovers, or as often happens in Nigeria, the violence inflicted on house girls (or houseboys) by the madam or her husband.
  6. We have Child Sex Trafficking (CST), referring to the awful phenomenon whereby children are sexually exploited and abused for the financial benefit of some unscrupulous merchants of evil, who are called pedophiles.
gender based violence

The Vulnerability of Women and Girls to GBV in Nigeria

Nigeria is a nation plagued by widespread insecurities that have far-reaching consequences, affecting various aspects of life, including economic stability, social cohesion, and human well-being. The country faces numerous challenges, including terrorism, banditry, kidnappings, and communal conflicts, which have not only created an environment of fear and uncertainty, but have also led to significant human suffering, displacement, and economic losses. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by these insecurities, facing increased risks of gender-based violence (GBV), including rape, sexual exploitation, domestic violence, and other forms of abuse. The vulnerability of women and girls to GBV is further exacerbated by other factors, including harmful cultural norms and practices, limited access to education and economic opportunities, and weak institutional responses to GBV cases. In conflict-affected areas of the country, women and girls are often exposed to heightened risks of GBV, including abduction and forced marriage. The internally displaced persons (IDP) camps and settlements, with their unique challenges of inadequate security and lack of privacy, also increase the vulnerability of women and girls to GBV. The resultant trauma and harm of GBV often have long-lasting effects on survivors, affecting their physical and mental health, as well as their ability to flourish in society.

Addressing GBV in Nigeria

Addressing GBV in Nigeria requires a comprehensive approach that involves government, religious leaders and community stakeholders, traditional rulers,  civil society organisations. The broad terms that guide this effort include prevention, protection, and prosecution.

GBV Prevention:

Preventing GBV in Nigeria requires a multi-faceted and multi-sectoral approach that address the root causes of violence. This includes challenging harmful cultural norms and stereotypes that perpetuate GBV, promoting gender equality, and empowering women and girls. Community-based initiatives that engage men and boys, traditional and religious leaders, civil society actors, and other stakeholders, are crucial in shifting social norms and promoting a culture of respect for women’s rights. Education and awareness-raising efforts can also help to increase knowledge about GBV and its impact, promoting a culture of zero tolerance for violence. Furthermore, strengthening laws and policies, such as the Child Rights Act, and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, and ensuring their effective implementation can help to prevent GBV and hold perpetrators accountable.

Effective GBV prevention in Nigeria also requires promoting economic empowerment and autonomy for women and girls, as well as providing them with access to education and healthcare. This can help to reduce their vulnerability to violence and exploitation. In addition, working with media and other influencers can help to promote positive messages and images that challenge harmful stereotypes and promote gender equality. By engaging all sectors of society, including government, religious bodies, civil society organisations, and community stakeholders, we can make meaningful progress in preventing GBV and promoting a safer, more equitable society where all persons, including women and girls, can have their dignity respected and their rights upheld.

Protecting GBV survivors

Protecting GBV survivors in Nigeria needs an all-inclusive support system that provides accessible, confidential, and survivor-centred services. This includes healthcare, counselling, legal aid, and shelter services that cater to the unique needs of survivors, ensuring their physical and emotional well-being. Healthcare providers need to be trained to provide medical treatment, documentation of evidence, and referral to other support services. Counselling services should be available to help survivors cope with trauma and rebuild their lives. Legal aid services can assist survivors in navigating the justice system, obtaining protection orders, and seeking compensation. Shelters and safe spaces should be established to provide a safe haven for survivors, particularly those fleeing from violent situations.

To effectively protect GBV survivors, capacity building should be prioritised for service providers, including healthcare professionals, law enforcement officials, social workers, and all human service workers. This can be achieved through training programs that focus on GBV response protocols, survivor-centred care, and trauma-informed practices. Furthermore, collaboration between government agencies, civil society organizations, and community-based groups is essential in ensuring a coordinated response to GBV. By providing accessible and effective support services, survivors of GBV can be helped to rebuild their lives, seek justice, and regain their dignity. Ultimately, protecting GBV survivors will require a sustained commitment to promoting their rights and well-being, and working towards creating a society that values and respects the dignity of all individuals.

Sexual and Gender based Violence

Prosecuting GBV Perpetrators

Prosecuting GBV perpetrators in Nigeria is a critical step towards holding them accountable for their actions and promoting justice for survivors. The Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act provides a crucial legal framework for prosecuting GBV cases, criminalizing various forms of violence against persons, including rape, assault, and other forms of abuse. To effectively prosecute GBV perpetrators, Nigeria’s justice system must be strengthened to ensure that cases are handled sensitively and efficiently. This includes training law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and judges on GBV laws and protocols, as well as ensuring that they understand the complexities of GBV cases and the needs of survivors. Additionally, witness protection programs and support services for survivors can help to ensure that justice is served.

Effective prosecution of GBV perpetrators in Nigeria also requires a coordinated effort between government agencies, civil society organizations, and community-based groups. This includes working with law enforcement agencies to ensure that GBV cases are thoroughly investigated and prosecuted, and providing support services to survivors throughout the justice process. Furthermore, we need to prioritize data collection and documentation of GBV cases, which can help to track progress and identify areas for improvement in the justice system. Holding perpetrators accountable for their actions will send a strong message that GBV will not be tolerated, and thereby promote a culture of accountability and respect for women’s rights. Prosecuting GBV perpetrators is essential for promoting justice, deterring future violence, and protecting the rights and dignity of survivors.

Here is a list of Prevention Strategies:

  1. Design and implement community-based education and awareness campaigns on the menace of GBV, and the critical role of all stakeholders towards ending it.
  2. Survey biblical and theological reflections on the divine origin, the supernatural end, and the equal dignity and inviolability of men and women, and how all forms of GBV are a major affront on the “Imago Dei” (the image and likeness of God), that all persons bear.
  3. Create safe spaces and provide effective support systems within faith communities, for women and girls under threat of violence.
  4. Sensitize Christian clergy and laity on the provision in the laws of some Churches and in the Matrimonial Causes Act of Nigeria, for “judicial separation,” where violence is a real threat in the marital union.
  5. Engage Cultural and Traditional Leaders as veritable partners in the campaign to end GBV.
  6. Develop bystander or witness intervention strategies and promote positive behavioral change.
  7. Foster effective and fruitful collaboration among stakeholders in the religious, legal, medical and psychosocial sectors for GBV prevention and survivor support.
  8. Promote deliberate mentorship in positive masculinity for boys and young men, and engage such boys and young men as major allies and champions in the effort to end GBV.
  9. Promote all-round empowerment for young women and girls, including those of them with disabilities.
  10. Highlight the critical place of Church institutions and religious leaders in GBV prevention – including seizing every opportunity to incorporate GBV prevention issues in regular sermons and retreat talks, and adding GBV prevention to the curricula for pre-marital courses as well as pre-nuptial, for ongoing marriage counselling sessions, and indeed the curriculum of clergy formation.
  11. Spotlight the role of the law enforcement agencies and the imperative of collaboration with civil society organisations in GBV prevention, as well as in survivor support and legal redress.
  12. Develop robust and effective communication strategies for the required public awareness, public education and public engagement towards the elimination of GBV .
  13. Prepare and make available to Christian stakeholders, some key messages from Scripture and the teaching of high level Christian leaders, on GBV prevention.
  14. Intercessory prayers for an end to the GBV menace is a Christian imperative, since all manifestations of GBV are at root, a consequence of the fallen human nature, requiring divine intervention. Christian activists must constantly have recourse to the Redeemer who came to liberate humanity from all evil, wicked and oppressive forces.