Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV)

SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH BEHAVIOUR

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Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV)

Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV)😖 is a violence directed against an individual or group on the basis of their gender. It refers to any act that is perpetrated against a person’s will and is based on gender norms and unequal power relationships. SGBV can be physical, emotional😔, psychological or sexual. It includes threats of violence, coercion, denial of resources or access to services. It inflicts harm on women, girls, men and boys.
Both male and female experience gender based violence, while men are likely to be victims of violence outside their homes, women and girls are more likely to experience violence in private spaces such as the home and are disproportionately affected.
GBV is a human rights issue as it is a violation of the fundamental human rights of such persons.

There are different forms of gender based violence

Physical violence: this is the use of physical force with the intention to cause harm, injury, disability or death⚰️ e.g. slapping, kicking, throwing objects etc.
Emotional violence: this is the use of verbal actions such as threat, humiliation, insult, yelling, isolation etc. to cause emotional pain and harm to the victim.
Economic violence: this is any action that results in economic harm e.g. denial of access to Education, economic activities or loans.
Sexual violence: this is the use of physical force to make someone perform a sexual act with an individual without their consent e.g. rape, attempt to rape, forced prostitution, incest, harassment, sexual abuse and exploitation etc.

Laws addressing SGBV in Nigeria

There are two main laws that protect the reproductive rights of women in Nigeria:

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended). The section 34 of this Constitution makes provision for every individual to be treated with respect for the dignity of his/her person and accordingly, no person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment.
Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law 2015. This act is to eliminate violence in private and public life, prohibits all forms of violence against persons and to provide maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment of offenders; and for related matters.

Different offences are prohibited in the act with different punishment including imprisonment and fines for offenders e.g. the law says that a person commits rape if he/she intentionally penetrates vagina, anus or mouth of another person without the consent of the other person. A convicted rapist can be sent to prison for life and if the offender is less than 14 years, he/she will have 14 years imprisonment.

Other offences punishable by Nigerian VAPP law include physical injury on a person, coercion, wilfully placing a person in fear of physical injury, offensive conduct, female genital mutilation🪒, economic abuse, deprivation of liberty, forced isolation or separation from family and friends, emotional, verbal and psychological abuse, spousal battery, incest, harmful traditional practices, stalking, intimidation etc.

Reporting SGBV

While survivors of sexual and gender based violence are encouraged to speak up and report the incidents, there are certain barriers to reporting SGBV. They include:

Social stigma and shame
Distrust of institutions
Fear of retaliation by the perpetrators
Lack of awareness
Access to referral services
Delay in getting justice
Lack of support from family and friends

How can we end SGBV

In order to eliminate violence against males and females in our society,

We must challenge the attitudes that promote violence and deny the right to safety.
Survivors of SGBV must speak up. Their voices are a critical part of the movement to end violence in our society. Also, not speaking up implies that they are empowering💪 the perpetrators to continue with the act.
Seek help for SGBV. A survivor must seek help such as medical, psycho-social and legal help.

Where can they seek help?

There are different government agencies and non-governmental organisations responsible for providing help to victims and survivors of SGBV. They include:

Gender unit of the Nigerian Police👮 Force.
Human trafficking and child protection unit of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
National Human Rights Commission
Ministry of Women Affairs – Federal, State and Local level.
Alternative dispute resolution of the Ministry of Justice
Sexual Assault and referral centre
Public Complaints commission
Government Health Centres
Legal aid council
Non-Governmental organisations that focus on SGBV
Institutions and Organisations.

What should a survivor of SGBV do?

A SGBV survivor should know that the abuse is in no way his/her fault and should take the following steps:

Leave the vicinity of the attack and move to a safe area
Contact trusted individuals for help
Report the incident to the police. Do not alter or destroy evidences e.g. taking a bath after a rape incident.
Seek medical care and psycho-social support. This may include getting Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent HIV infection if the rapist is HIV positive.
Seek legal justice and redress.

Directory of Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Responders and Service Providers in Nigeria

Glossary words and their meanings

Incest: sexual activities between close relatives, especially immediate family members.
Exploitation: the improper use of something for selfish purposes.
Mutilation: the act of causing severe damage or injury to a person’s body, often resulting in the loss of the body part.

SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH BEHAVIOUR