Globally, it is estimated that 1 in 3 women experience either physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. These figures are mirrored in Nigeria, with 30% of girls and women aged between 15 and 49 reported to have experienced sexual abuse alone.
During the lockdown, gender-based violence was reported to have significantly increased in states like Lagos, Abuja and Ogun. Even service providers reported sharp increases in cases of intimate partner and domestic violence. And there’s more: in conflict zones like Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, approximately 1.8 million internally displaced women and girls of reproductive age are at a higher risk of experiencing gender-based violence due to deprived living conditions.
Last year, we joined the UNFPA, one of the UN’s lead agencies working to further gender equality and women’s empowerment, in its campaign against gender-based violence. UNFPA has established over 33 safe spaces for women in north-eastern Nigeria, offering mental health and psychosocial support, maternal health care and livelihood skills training.
One voice can break the silence, which means you can too. The first step is getting informed about gender-based violence enough to stand up for survivors and speak out against it. Take our quiz to learn more staggering facts about gender-based violence in Nigeria.