26 Jun Let’s talk sgbv on naija health radio
Gender Based violence is a global pandemic and Nigeria has long been facing gender based violence with nearly 3 in 10 women having experienced physical violence by age 15 (NDHS 2013). The patriarchal system in the country enforces violence against women and girls as a tool for correcting behaviour and exerting dominance especially in marriage and public life.
Religion also play major role in encouraging such practices. Religion portrays women as being inferior to men and the perception of women as ‘unclean’ and portrayal of virtuous women as ‘submissive’, all of which endorse Gender Based Violence (GBV). Also the frown on divorce by some religious sects makes it further difficult for women to leave abusive marriages. Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) crisis is on the rise with 30{4537b9b1a2668a749288a94f7137b82133d8f670e289a9537042e50ad19d5580} of women and girls aged 15-49 having experienced sexual abuse (NDHS 2018). The Covid-19 Pandemic has further exacerbated the incidences of violence against women and girls and other vulnerable persons with the antecedent shadow pandemic that heightened the incidences of sexual and gender based violence
One major characteristics of gender based violence is that it knows no social or economic boundaries and affects women and girls of all socio-economic backgrounds. Recent estimates suggest that at least 27{4537b9b1a2668a749288a94f7137b82133d8f670e289a9537042e50ad19d5580} of Nigeria women and girls between the ages of 15-49 have experienced female genital mutilation/cutting (PHR 2016). Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) causes infertility, maternal death, infections and loss of sexual pleasure. Statistics posits that 1out of every 3 female Nigerian has been through some forms of violence in their life time (Cleen 2013).
Gender Based Violence can be categorised into 5 major types to include Physical violence/abuse, Sexual violence/abuse, psychological or emotional violence/abuse, Economic of Financial violence/abuse, Religious violence or abuse. Neglect is also a form of violence and this is not exhaustive.
WAVEHI recognizes that violence against women and girls and other vulnerable persons is a Public Health Issue and must be treated as such.
Please join WAVEHI founder in the person of Lara Rowland as she tackles SGBV issues on Naija Health Radio, a web/online radio on Instagram, every Wednesday at 11am W.A.T
For sponsorship details please call +2349077128075 or send an email to wavehi.ng@gmail.com
No Comments