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By Ijeoma UKAZU
Globally, women and girls suffer extremely from sexual violence with the majority of these incidences going unreported. To mitigate this, approaches that speak to preventive as well as curative measures must be adopted.
According to the World Health Organisation, WHO, 30 percent of women have experienced intimate partner violence. That is 736 million women around the world. WHO in its 2021 study states that two of the most prevalent types of violence that women experience are intimate partner violence, IPV, and non-partner sexual violence, NPSV.
WHO further states that almost one in three women across the world have experienced one or both forms of violence at least once in their lifetime. This latest finding estimated the global and regional prevalence of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence against women.
The Nigeria Demographic Health Survey, NDHS, 2018 revealed that 33 percent of girls and women aged between 15 and 49 years have experienced sexual abuse. Recent years have seen a surge in reported cases of sexual violence within the country.
According to Spotlight Initiative, a global multi-year partnership between the European Union and United Nations to eliminate all forms of violence against women and the girl-child revealed that young women and girls especially those living with disabilities are particularly vulnerable and they suffer enduring physical and psychological consequences. They suggest that urgent action is needed to raise awareness, institute preventive measures as well, and establish effective response mechanisms.
Spotlight Initiative explained that sexual violence encompasses unwanted completed sex acts (e.g., rape), attempted non-consensual sex acts (e.g., unwanted completed or attempted sex), abusive sexual contacts (e.g., unwanted touching), and pressured sex through threats or deception for instance.
On this backdrop, the KASA initiative, an advocacy and public campaign aimed at addressing sexual violence, funded by the African Women Development Fund, AWDF, through White Ribbon Alliance, WRA, Kenya engaged about 5,426 women across Kaduna, Nasarawa, Enugu, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The group in its recent survey on sexual violence against women revealed that there is an increase in the number of incidents in Nigerian communities.
Christy Asala, the technical expert who presented the survey findings, said the research was an opportunity to ask and listen to women from all walks of life about their experiences with sexual violence.
Asala, a representative of the African Women’s Development Fund, AWDF, who spoke in a forum recently said the data obtained from the survey poses great concern for stakeholders as many women who live in violence have no idea that they do.
She said, “The data we got from the survey is a source of concern because the numbers are enormous, during the listening sessions, the respondents shared their experiences about sexual abuse.
“The findings underscore the prevalence of sexual violence across diverse age groups and regions. Among the 5,426 respondents, about 47 percent disclosed that they had experienced sexual violence.
“Further analysis of age-specific data brought to light varying prevalence rates: those above 60 years, reported a 61 percent incidence, while respondents aged 21-30, 31-40, and 41-50 faced a shared rate of 51 percent,” she stated.
Asala further adds that respondents aged 51-60 encountered a 49 percent prevalence, and individuals aged 10-20 revealed a troubling 39 percent exposure to sexual violence.
Meanwhile, Charles Jang, a Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation Officer at Cognito, who participated in the survey noted that young females have challenges reporting issues of sexual violence.
In his words, ‘‘A lot of people are trying to break the culture of silence but when they report, procedures are not followed till the end. It is either the Ministry of Justice is not meeting up or the law enforcement officer defaults.
‘‘The girls, especially those abused by their relatives are willing to speak but the Nigerian system does not encourage them to.’’
Onyinye Mamah, a coordinator of the survey in Enugu State said the mechanisms for eliminating gender violence need to be improved across the country but mostly in Enugu.
Mamah, who heads the Heroin Women Foundation in the State, called for strong reporting mechanisms as cases have often fallen through the cracks with victims not getting justice.
‘‘When we report to the Ministry of Justice or the Police or other agencies, they don’t take it as seriously as NGOs do. All the NGOs can do is mini rehabilitation but cannot punish offenders,’’ she said.
Ensuring safe and free communities
The key demand by women and girls suggests the urgent need for preventive and curative measures to protect females from violence.
Women and girls interviewed also demanded capital punishment for perpetrators of sexual violence and the commitment of law enforcement officers to help them get justice.
Statistics gathered from the survey show the number of responses gathered from women in the community women suggesting both preventive and curative measures to tackle sexual violence in their immediate environment.
Suggestions under the preventive measures show that 790 respondents said that sex education should be taught in schools, churches, mosques, and society. 640 suggested that more awareness and sensitization should be put out in the communities. 540 respondents said parental guidance and empowerment are needed.
310 women said the dressing and behavior of young girls should be addressed to curb sexual violence. A total of 306 women said empowerment and job opportunities should be provided to women and 127 responders said there should be community involvement in tackling this scourge.
On the curative, 1820 women suggested that stiffer punishment should be meted out to perpetrators. 430 responders added that law enforcement institutions should be prompt in their constitutional duties and 406 women suggested reporting, law, and justice play a key role in ending sexual violence against women.
A call for action
The KASA campaign adopts a simple yet profound qualitative approach that aims to empower women and girls to set the agenda for advocacy. By ensuring that priority issues and solutions are driven by the voices of women and girls within the community, the survey approach ensures alignment with genuine concerns.
Direct requests by women and girls within Nigerian communities suggest how to foster safety in their communities while calling on the government and stakeholders to take the needed steps to eliminate this scourge.
KASA said “If we desire to cultivate a society that safeguards the well-being of women and girls and effectively mitigate the escalating physical and psychological repercussions, it is not enough to solely heed these requests. It is time to decisively TAKE ACTION.”
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