We need to keep the momentum in the fight against Gender Based Violence - EU

The European Union has called on governors of states that have not yet passed the Child Right Act and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act to support their passage and implementation. In a statement to mark the end of this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence, the EU said there is need for all to stand up and speak out against gender-based violence in all its forms.

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is a key moment of the year and is important to make sure that gender-based violence remains on top of our priorities.

“There is no excuse for violence against women. It is a human rights violation and a crime. It is preventable and change is possible, with the right policies, the right action and a strong political will and commitment. Gender-based violence can only stop if we end impunity of perpetrators,” the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms Samuela Isopi said.

Violence against women and girls happens in every country. The facts are shocking - in the European Union and across the world, one in three women have experienced physical or sexual violence. One in five girls today are victims of child sexual abuse. Online violence is on the rise, with one in two young women experiencing gender-based cyber violence.

For the European Union, this is a year of stocktaking: both our flagship programmes, the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative and the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC), are running into their final months of implementation in Nigeria.

Data and facts are essential to taking stock of the state of gender-based violence in Nigeria. That is why the EU Delegation joined the UN and the Nigerian Government in launching a report “Facts about Violence against Women and Girls in Nigeria” sponsored by the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, which highlights key facts about GBV in Nigeria:

1.  In Nigeria, one in three women (age 15-49) have experienced sexual violence.
2. One in four girls including very young ones, experience sexual violence.
3. Half of the girl child who experienced gender based violence experienced it AT HOME.
4. Only 0.9% of perpetrators of sexual assault are brought to trial, almost none of them are convicted.

This report also recognises the positive developments and progress made in Nigeria: in the improvement of the legal framework (through the widespread adoption and domestication of the VAPP and Child Rights Acts); in social advocacy and awareness raising; and in increasing the availability and access to services through the creation of 32 Sexual Assault Referral Centres in 19 states. These developments are the result of a strong political commitment

Still, the state of GBV in Nigeria remains worrying. We need to keep the momentum. The EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, the Nigeria Governors’ Wives Forum and the Inter-ministerial Management Committee on GBV worked together to develop the SGBV Accountability Tracker (SGBVAT). This is a key tool for taking stock of the state of GBV in Nigeria.

The SGBV Accountability Tracker is a one-stop shop for all GBV related information.

“To end GBV, we need a holistic approach to gender equality and we need to build partnerships across the board. As proven by the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, a holistic approach to GBV is 70-90% more effective than other models. We can make a difference if we join forces with all the stakeholders. That is why the EU will remain strongly engaged,” Ambassador Isopi said.

While the Spotlight Initiative and RoLAC are ending next year, the EU is mobilising new funds and will continue to support the Nigerian government and stakeholders in the effort to curb GBV.

More broadly, support to women’s empowerment and gender equality is key priority for the European Union, in all areas of our work. The EU has its own Gender Action Plan in all partner countries which guides our action in support to gender equality.  At least 85% of all EU programmes must have gender equality as a significant or principal objective. In the case of Nigeria, this means that the EU’s overall gender-sensitive action would be over 425 million euros.

The EU will also continue to engage in high-level dialogue on gender equality with the Nigerian government, with the civil society and use public diplomacy to engage with the public and create greater public awareness.

The next administration must continue to prioritise the fight against gender-based violence and call on all candidates and political parties to prioritize gender equality and women’s empowerment. Violence against women and girls should be everyone’s concern and a by-partisan whole-of-country combat.

The European Union remains committed in its ambition to end violence against women inside and outside the EU. Let’s UNITE to say no to gender based violence. Not only today or during the 16 days but every single day.