By Hafez Ozimare Yesufu
Gender-based violence (GBV) has held my unwavering attention for years, and the heart-wrenching stories of survivors, coupled with their profound sense of
powerlessness during these ordeals, stir a potent mix of anger and sorrow within me. My strong opposition to oppression,
discrimination, victimization, and intimidation led me to delve into the realm of personal safety and security, propelled by a burning desire to uncover answers and alternative solutions.
This article coincidentally finds its place during the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV),” providing me with the perfect opportunity to share my resolutions on this critical issue.
Understanding GBV is crucial, defined by the European Commission as violence directed against a person because of
their gender or violence that disproportionately affects persons
of a particular gender. It is not just a violation of human rights but a form of discrimination, predominantly impacting mostly girls and women. According to Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRD) and radical feminists, the patriarchal system promoting gender inequality is the root cause of the sufferings, persecutions,injustices, and oppressions faced by girls and women globally.
However, dismantling this system remains a formidable challenge, as most essential facilities and infrastructures aremanaged and maintained by men.
Nigeria, in its ongoing battle for gender equality, faces hurdles in fully embracing and promoting gender power relations that safeguard the rights of girls and women. The government’s
efforts on GBV, while commendable, have encountered obstacles such as lengthy conviction processes, insufficient funding, and some officials not treating GBV reports with the seriousness and
confidentiality they demand.
Studies reveal the persistent discrimination against Nigerian
women in various economic areas, accompanied by genderbased violence in the forms of family violence, rape, physical assault, abusive language, refusal of food, sex slavery, and early
child marriage. The 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) indicates that over 31% of women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence before the age of fifteen.
Factors contributing to gender-based violence include age, job, educational attainment, exposure to family violence as a child,family type, duration of union, and participation in household
decision-making.
Psychological aspects, according to Walton and Pavlos, play a role in GBV, with personality traits such as spontaneous anger,impulse control issues, and a low self-image being contributing factors. Data also reveals that infractions like wife-beating stem
from reasons such as refusing to respect a husband, having adulterous affairs, refusing sexual intercourse, leaving the house without permission, keeping bad company, abusing alcohol, cooking poorly, cooking late, or showing disdain for in-laws.
The Nigerian National Population Commission reports that GBV experienced by Nigerian women throughout their lifetime from either their present husband stands at 19% for emotional
violence, 14% for physical violence, and 5% for sexual abuse.
Previous studies carried out in Nigeria indicated that the proportion of GBV ranges from 31 to 61 percent for emotional and mental violence, 20 to 31 percent for sex-related violence, and
7 to 31 percent for physical and bodily violence. The prevalence varies across different regions of Nigeria, with the northern part experiencing rates between 42% and 29%, 78.8% in the southeastern part, and 41% in the south-south region (Journal of Gynecology and Women’s Health, 2022).
Despite the proposed solutions, theories, and the mass awareness campaigns surrounding GBV, from the above data, the rate in Nigeria continues to rise, exacerbated by the recent Covid-19 lockdown, insurgency, and the complacency nature of
women towards personal safety and security due to technology
advancements and the perceived “peaceful nature” of society.
The media often feature stories or graphic videos of genderbased violence with gory endings, including sexual harassment,physical violence, harmful traditional practices, gender mutilation, emotional and psychological violence, socio-economic violence, and violence against non-combatant women in conflict situations. Nigeria, grappling with security challenges and an
unstable security apparatus, prompts the question of whether achieving security, especially regarding lives and properties or protection from GBV, is feasible.
Security, as defined by the International Security Management
and Knowledge Archive (ISMKA), encompasses stability, continuity of livelihood, predictability of daily life, protection from crime, and freedom from psychological harm. It is not just
the absence of threats but the ability to navigate and respond to challenges adeptly. Security is a shared responsibility, extending beyond law enforcement to encompass every individual’s commitment to safeguarding themselves, loved ones, and properties.
It is evident that security is first a personal responsibility and relying on the government for total security is like expecting them to “tuck us in bed at night, lock our doors and gates, and
watch over us like guardian angels”.
Insecurity, characterized by fear or anxiety stemming from a perceived lack of protection, encompasses various forms, with physical insecurity being the most apparent.
Achieving security in Nigeria is feasible but requires a paradigm shift. Despite commendable campaigns, initiatives, and reforms by CSOs and NGOs to elevate awareness levels, GBV
remains largely unabated. Survivors still endure discrimination,
stigma, and psychological trauma when reporting incidents.
Doubt cast upon survivors’ accounts further restricts the reporting
and documentation of incidents.
The complacency nature of girls and women toward personal safety, the technological dependency, and the perceived “peaceful nature” of society inadvertently increase our vulnerability.
Violence, the fundamental element of GBV, breeds fear, and fear
breeds insecurity. Thus, taking a proactive stance against GBV
becomes imperative.
Traditionally, females receive guidance on various aspects of life but often lack comprehensive instruction on personal safety and security. They rather receive instructions to steer clear of certain things or actions without much context, leaving the young
girls with a sense of being confined or deprived. Consequently, this lack of clarity fosters a nonchalant attitude toward their own safety on numerous occasions.
Empowering young girls and women at a foundational level is pivotal in reducing GBV incidents. This involves providing them with the knowledge and skills to identify potential assailants,
behavioural patterns, assess risks, and employ strategies to prevent or counter such crimes. This empowerment extends to
fostering situational awareness, developing psychological and
physical safe zones, and equipping individuals with self-defense
training and tools.
As earlier mentioned, if most perpetrators’ motives are fueled by a superiority complex mindset, impulse control issues, anger,low self-image, a belief, and other psychological factors, a more powerful deterrent would be a culture of enhanced safety and security.
The concept that potential victims can be vigilant and defend themselves menacingly if need be serves as a potent deterrent. Effectively communicating our state of preparedness and capability to respond to potential threats or abuse cultivates a proactive environment that discourages harmful behaviours. The
fear of impending consequences becomes a powerful deterrent.
I am not suggesting that girls and women become ‘Kung-fu’ masters, marks women, or bodybuilders, nor am I advocating we
resolve one form of violence for another. Instead, my advocacy
is for behavioural changes that help cultivate heightened awareness and instincts, enabling women to discern dangerous or potentially threatening situations and learn effective ways to
address, respond, or deter them.
In conclusion, it is known, that people with the tools to protect themselves and the ability to do so are either feared,
respected, or both. As it stands, we do not have the capability to totally eradicate poverty, insecurity, oppression, victimization,
discrimination, reverse human aggression, but we can actively
commit to a proactive approach in the face of the alarming rates of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria. It is time toempower personal safety, champion security, and collectively work towards a society free from the shackles of GBV. Together, we can forge a safer and more secure future for all.
Hafez Ozimare Yesufu is a personal safety and security educator with over 16 years working.experience as a Senior IT Consultant.
