BY: JUMAI NWACHUKWU
Gender Based Violence is violence directed against a person because of their gender; although GBV cuts across the male and female gender, history has shown that it is most prevalent against women and girls and it is rooted in power inequalities between men and women. In some communities in Nigeria, it is a welcome behaviour for men to beat up women and they have no say when it comes to sex.
In both work and home settings, there has been violence against women, girls and children. The ineffective implementation of Nigerian laws has led to increase in GBV because the Nigerian constitution does not discriminate against anyone but these days the rights of women and people living with disabilities (PWDs) are not considered .
Also, the failure of some states to domesticate laws such as the Child Rights Acts has been an impediment in prosecuting cases of violence against children; so far, 21 states have domesticated the Child Right Act in Nigeria.
Nigeria has long been facing a gender-based violence crisis, with women and girls having experienced sexual abuse. Lack of coordination amongst key stakeholders and poor implementation of legal frameworks, combined with entrenched gender discriminatory norms has hampered government and civil society efforts to address Gender Based Violence.
This is why the Good Women Association (GWA) In response to the disturbing surge in gender-based violence (GBV) cases, recently concluded a two-day training for media practitioners, with the focus on responsible reporting of victims involved in gender-based violence, harassment, and abuse.
The training was organized by Good Women Association (GWA) in collaboration with Love Alliance/ISDOA, held in Lagos with various media practitioners across the country in attendance including The Pointer Newspaper Delta State.
Speaking with our Correspondent at the end of the exercise , the Executive Director of Good Women Association, Mrs. Biola Ibeifo, mentioned that the organization, which is a Non-profit and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) was founded in 2002 and is dedicated to providing services for vulnerable women and adolescents, with the sole mission to empoweringwomen and creating awareness through intervention programs.
According to Ibeifo, the training was aimed to establish advocacy groups and organizations committed to combating GBV, raising awareness, and addressing the root causes of the pervasive issue, as reports from various communities and states highlighted a concerning increase in incidents involving domestic violence, sexual assault, and harassment, with victims encountering significant challenges in seeking justice and support.
Ibeifo also emphasized the crucial role of education and community involvement in changing societal attitudes contributing to gender-based violence. Noting that campaigns promoting awareness, consent, and respect for all individuals, regardless of gender, are gaining momentum as advocates strive to create a safer and more inclusive society.
She, however, pointed that law enforcement agencies are under increased scrutiny to ensure thorough investigations of GBV cases and holding perpetrators accountable to serve as deterrent to others.
The international community closely monitors these developments, emphasizing the global commitment needed to eradicate gender-based violence by promoting gender equality, empowerment, and dismantling harmful stereotypes.
She urged the participants to actively focus on combating false reportage of victims and gaining insight into cases using media platforms to sensitize the public on gender-based violence issues to bring about meaningful change and ensuring a safer environment free from gender-based violence threats.
In the same vein, the facilitator of the training and a consultant to the Group, Barr. Adaeze Feyisayo, while highlighting the stark reality that almost one in every 3 women, an estimated 736 million women globally , has experienced gender-based violence from their intimate partners, urged Journalist to ensure they get factual information from abused victims and relevant sectors involved in a specific case before publishing their reports.
While providing guidance to journalists, Barr. Feyisayo listed recommendations and approaches that should be followed when reporting on gender-based violence cases.
She encouraged participants to fully engage with the training, emphasizing its significance in enhancing their understanding of the prevalence of gender-based violence in the country.
