Activists against gender based violence, (GBV) want disciplinary measures taken against perpetrators of the act in Nigeria, to ensure their victims get justice and also heal from the trauma.
They made this call on the sidelines of the start of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence in the country.
Gender based violence is a common social problem in Nigeria.
It is a threat to human rights and hinders the ability of victims to contribute meaningfully to societal growth, sustainable peace and development
According to the Global Database on Violence against Women, 22.3% of women in Nigeria experience lifetime physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, while 43.4% of young girls are victims of child marriage with 19.5% of young girls being victims of female genital mutilation.
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, there are calls for a need to work with men and boys perceived as perpetrators, towards putting an end to the menace.
Males are also identified as victims of gender-based violence too and are being encouraged to speak out.
There are suggestions that perpetrators be punished accordingly.
Security agencies are as well asked to help victims speak out rather than discourage them from doing so.
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25th of November, which is also the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
