By CHIOMA UMEHA

With the rising cases of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in Nigeria, experts have said, 36 per cent of married women have experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence at the hand of their spouses across the country.

This revelation emerged at an ongoing four-day media dialogue with journalists on ethical reporting and advocacy to Eliminate Violence Against Women And Girls organised by Spotlight Initiative Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

One of the experts, Foluke Omoworare, Coordinator, Spotlight Initiative Lagos, stressed that these perpetrators of violence against women are mostly spouses and intimate partners, while children are often violated by people that know them.

Omoworare said, “For Women, perpetrators are mostly spouses and intimate partners (36 per cent of ever-married women have experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence in the hand of their

spouses.)

“For children, perpetrators are people that are known to them (parent, caregiver, teacher, neighbour, etc.)”

She also stated that one in four girls have experienced sexual violence, adding that, violence is rarely an isolated incident and the majority of children surveyed experienced violence in the home.

According to her, women and girls with disabilities are twice as likely to experience violence of any form.

Also speaking during the meeting, Mr Waheed Ishola, Director, National Orientation Agency, Lagos, said the media dialogue is to beam the spotlight on women and girls, stressing that the focus is to address the negative socio-cultural norms attached to reporting cases of violence.

Ishola said some of the perceived reasons for prevalence of abuse of women and girls includes; ” poverty, indecent dressing among adolescent girls, missing parental care, quest for money, fame and political position by women.”

Others includes, “Neglect of family values, inability of men to manage their home, illicit drug/substance abuse, ritualistic purposes, fear of stigmatization.”

Earlier, Muhammad Okorie, the Chief of Operations, UNICEF Lagos, said violence against women is a global issue, adding that, this trend threatens women to achieving their full potential.

“Before 25 years, a girl must have been violated either sexually or physically. If we do not end violence against women, we can reduce it to the nearest minimum.

“The meeting is to ensure that we end VAWG. The media has a vintage position to reach a larger audience since they have more access through their report to speak to stakeholders,” Okorie stated. (Daily Independent)

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