I am a human rights activist and lawyer who fights for the enforcement of the rights of victims of human rights violations. I have worked with several human rights organizations, aside from my private law practice, I run an NGO; Virtuous Women Empowerment International. There has been no issue of greater importance to me than the quest to preserve the sanity of women and girls.

Sexual violence is a very under-reported phenomenon in Nigeria due to the ignorance of the victims, the stigmatization resulting from the lack of documentation, the general acceptance of the act by society as a normal event, and corruption, which is why Available data tend to underestimate the true scale of sexual violence. issue. The prevalence data of the different forms of violence against women show the statistics of physical and/or sexual violence in the couple in life: 16%, physical and/or sexual violence in the couple in the last 12 months: 11% , sexual violence in life outside the couple: 2%, child marriage: 43%, female genital mutilation/cutting: 25%[1].

However, there is a drastic increase in this threat, due to the influence of the media through the graphic visual representation of sexual relations or nudity and moral decay in society. Sexual violence takes multiple forms and contexts in which it occurs. The World Health Organization (WHO) in its 2002 World Report on Violence and Health defined sexual violence as: “any sexual act, attempted sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic , or otherwise directed, against a person’s sexuality using coercion, by any person, regardless of relationship to the victim, in any setting, including, but not limited to, home and work[2]. Sexual violence is a neglected area in Nigeria and Africa as a whole, so promoting a coordinated movement against it is imperative.

It is said that it is a world of men, for me it is not just an adage but it is actually so practiced; in law, case law is still frequently based on “reasonable male standards” that assume male bodies and experiences. It is very unlikely that a man would feel threatened by another man who is roughly the same size and strength. Women, however, are more likely to be assaulted and killed by an intimate partner, most often a man.

In Nigeria, society prioritizes men’s bodies, experiences and needs, and women are often relegated and disrespected. Women and girls are seen as property and are raped at will without any sanction. There is no true respect and value of the sanctity of women and girls even with the increase in education and the claim of civilization, sexual violence unlike other crimes are considered as a pre-existing condition -Women and girls they suffer disproportionately from these aspects; one cannot even imagine what they go through, since the situation is so pathetic. Sexual violence in Nigeria happens to women of any age; it is an act of violence that is perpetrated by parents, caregivers, acquaintances, employers, and strangers, as well as intimate partners.

There is a lot of physical violence, emotional abuse and non-consensual sexual interaction against the sexual integrity of women and girls, it swings on both sides in this modern age and it happens on a daily basis in Nigeria; female genital mutilation, compulsory inspection of virginity by father, future husband or teachers, forced prostitution and human trafficking for sexual exploitation, sexual relations of fathers with their daughters, rape of girls by the opposite sex, teachers, uncles and caretakers, addressing ladies in a sexually inappropriate manner, accosting a woman on the road, beating a woman on sensitive parts of her body in order to greet or woo a woman, these are common problems in our society , men do it with leverage and get away with it. Some have the notion that all women are loose sex machines or prostitutes, while others have the notion that women are babies.

A man cannot have sexual relations with a woman unless she has given her consent. This consent must not be obtained by force, deception, manipulation or misrepresentation. Furthermore, sexual relations between a father and his daughter or a direct blood relationship are not permitted. There is an age limit for girls who can participate sexually, the Nigerian Sexual Offenses Bill stipulates 18 years as the age of consent. Therefore, sexual intercourse with a baby or teenager is not allowed.

It is not uncommon for people’s general awareness to be minimal. In large part, that is a consequence of not being openly discussed.

Other causes of this evil are very poor parenting as a result of moral rectitude, women and mothers are aware of teaching their children sexual education, mothers threaten their daughters and do not establish a close relationship with their daughter to create a environment for them to relate what they are going through sexually. Most mothers see their daughters as competition for their husband’s love and focus solely on themselves without taking the time to educate the girl about her sexuality. Raising a child is the responsibility of both parents; father and mother, most parents neglect their responsibility to train their children to be responsible. In a family where the father does not respect his wife, lords it over her, assaults her and sexually abuses her, that son brings that mentality to society in her relationship with the female community and the wife later on. Innocent girls who are morally taught to obey their father and are not properly guided to know that their parents are not destined to sexually abuse them.

The lack of institutional support from the police and judicial system, the general tolerance of sexual violence within the community, weak community sanctions against sexual perpetrators, the fear of being stigmatized, insulted and abandoned by society, and the ignorance of the availability of help are part of the causes. .

When women and girls are sexually oppressed, businesses and government agencies suffer, through employee absences, security costs, prosecution of suspected perpetrators, and increased poverty due to a reduced workforce of citizens who cannot work to their maximum capacity. It also affects them psychologically, not being able to trust the opposite sex, fear of marriage or a relationship, reduces their self-confidence (most feel that they are worthless or because of the social stigma imposed on them).

In addition, sexual violence has a profound short- or long-term impact on physical and mental health, such as increased risk of sexual and reproductive health problems, increased risk of suicide or HIV infection, murder, forced abortion.

Furthermore, in order to eradicate sexual violence, mothers should properly educate their women about sex, pious morals and properly observe them, churches, mosques should teach girls about incest and sexual relations with direct blood relatives, Schools need to educate girls on this subject and even male teachers. must be reviewed. There should also be express legislation against sexual violence, whatever its form.

The mentality of men in Nigeria must change and for this the government must take a clear stand against this. The perpetrator is this evil must be arrested, prosecuted and use a public example to warn others. It is so funny that when there is a situation of sexual violence and a police officer is reported, even sides with the perpetrators or dismisses the problem, the Nigerian police force must be properly guided.

Women and girls should no longer tolerate sexual violence in any of its forms, but oppose it. The complaint must be made by the victims in a timely manner at the police station and at the nearest human rights NGO for prosecution and fulfillment of their rights.

Often, violence against women and girls is fueled by negative constructions of masculinity and masculinity, which lead men to believe that they must have certain qualities and exhibit superior behavior to women. For example, physical strength and sexual prowess can be used as indicators of whether or not someone is a “real man.”

Most men do not knowingly perpetrate violence against women and girls. The main problem is that most men who do not participate in the act remain silent and do not hold other men responsible, much less discourage their language and behavior, so for men of all ages, it is essential to facilitate or start the dialogue between them. on violence against women and girls to change the mindset and actions of boys and young men towards their female counterparts.

It also requires redefining traditional representations of masculinity that go against the interests and rights of women and embracing the recognition of women’s rights. Women and girls must also be able to share their truths as survivors of targeted violence inflicted on them because of their gender. Real fears about social stigma and isolation can only be overcome through widespread recognition that violence against women and girls is tragically normalized. By providing survivors of gender-based violence with emotional affirmation and nonjudgmental support, we enable their perpetrators to operate freely and with impunity.

Success in addressing violence against women and girls must be seen as a long-term intergenerational effort. It is about transforming cultures and societies that have beliefs and systems that are harmful to women and girls, as well as other vulnerable populations.

[1] UN Women, Global Database on Violence Against Women http://www.evaw-global-database.unwomen.org/en/countries/africa/nigeria

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_Violence