Uniting to Ending Violence Against Women and Girls

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It has become a sad and frequent reality that each day seems to bring new reports of child molestation, rape, and women enduring domestic violence. In these situations, rather than addressing the root causes of abuse, society often shifts the blame to the victim, shaming them, or labelling the assault as taboo.

In many cases, the voices of survivors are silenced, leaving them isolated and without support. This toxic culture of victim-blaming only perpetuates the cycle of violence and diminishes the urgency needed to confront and end gender-based violence.

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign observed annually. It starts on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and runs until December 10, Human Rights Day.

Originally inaugurated in 1991 by activists at the Women’s Global Leadership Institute, the campaign serves as a vital organizing platform for individuals and groups globally to advocate the prevention and eradication of violence against women and girls.

To strengthen this civil society initiative, the then United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the UNITE to End Violence Against Women by 2030. This UN campaign runs in conjunction with the 16 Days of Activism, amplifying calls to action. Every year, the UNITE Campaign focuses on a specific theme, and this year’s is “Towards Beijing +30: UNITE to End Violence Against Women and Girls.”.

The theme highlights the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2025, a landmark global agenda for women’s rights and gender equality adopted in 1995. It is a comprehensive policy agenda aimed at advancing women’s rights in 12 critical areas, including poverty, education, health, violence, armed conflict, and political participation.

The Beijing + 30 theme is an opportunity to reflect and accelerate progress in key areas like violence prevention, economic empowerment, and women’s health, especially in the context of ongoing global challenges. The UNiTE campaign stresses the importance of increased accountability, stronger national strategies, and enhanced support for women’s rights organizations.

In spite of global efforts, violence against women and girls remains prevalent across both public and private spaces. The campaign calls for sustained commitment and partnership to prevent violence and ensure justice for women and girls worldwide This year’s campaign also calls on governments worldwide to assess how they are investing in gender-based violence prevention.

It is worrisome that 29 years after the historic Beijing women’s conference, violence against women and girls is still common in Nigeria. Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), has resulted in 338 convictions, with approximately 870 cases currently in court, according to the National Agency of Trafficking in Prohibition in Persons (NAPTIP). However, gender experts say that the actual number of SGBV cases may be even higher, as many incidents go unreported or remain under investigation.

The data highlights both the progress made and the ongoing challenges in addressing SGBV, with experts stressing the need for continued efforts to raise awareness and encourage reporting. Many states have domesticated the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act 2015 (VAPPA) and the Child Rights Act, but enforcement of these laws remains a challenge.

If fully implemented, the Act not only ensures that violators are brought to justice but also that victims have adequate resources for justice, rehabilitative social support, and protection. There is a critical need for government at all levels to invest in gender responsive-budgeting, funding commitment, and action to improve medical, psychological, and social welfare for survivors.

In addition, government needs to establish and fund free ‘Sexual Assault Referral Centers’ (SARCs) in primary healthcare centers in every local government area to serve citizens at the grassroots level. State governments should partner with local NGOs to enhance the reach of SGBV response services and expand the number of channels available for citizens to report SGBV and get help.

It is also imperative to deliberately track the progress of sexual violence cases as they pass through the state’s justice process and ensure speedy prosecution. Uniting to end this menace is everyone’s business, and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) also has a huge role to play in this by sensitizing citizens on the ills. Citizens must also show solidarity by speaking out and ensuring justice is served when necessary to demonstrate how much they care about ending violence against women and girls and their concern for a world free from violence towards women.

Writing by Hadiza Abdulrahman

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