FATHER rapes daughter, husband beats wife to stupor, 67 year old man defiles eight year old girl, wife stabs husband to death, these and many more have made headlines of various news stories.
Domestic violence has been part of the fabric of many societies and cultures world wide. It is so commonplace that it has often gone unnoticed and failed the level of concern it deserves in light of the devastating effects on children and families.
World Health Organisation – (WHO) has defined domestic violence as the range of sexually, psychologically and physically co-ercive acts used against women by current or former male intimate partners. Whilst women, men, boys and girls can be victims of domestic violence, women and girls are disproportionally affected.
It primarily involves the battering of intimate partners, sexual abuse of children, marital rape, abusive treatment of one family by another thus violating the law of basic human rights.
Domestic violence in Nigeria is on the up and up the statistics are daunting!
According to amnesty International (2007) a third of women in Nigeria are believed to have been subjected to physical, sexual and psychological violence carried out primarily by husbands, partners and fathers; this is terribly reprehensible
One question remains unanswered; what is the reason behind the sky-rocketing increase of domestic violence in Nigeria, is it that the long hands of the law is not catching up with the perpetrators of this dastardly act or the punishment doled out on these perpetrators is not thorough enough to keep other persons with such intentions at bay?
Aihie (2009) identified various forms of domestic violence as physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, economic abuse, emotional abuse and spiritual abuse and although the world today just might be sourcing for possible ways to put the menace of domestic violence away and appropriately punish the perpetrators of such crimes, the endangering effects of domestic violence is alarming.
Consequences;
Dependency:
Victims of domestic violence are in a position of dependence (financial, emotional physical, and otherwise) on the person abusing them, for instance, a husband and a wife, children and parents, and domestic servants.
Children are often principal victims of domestic violence, witnessing, experiencing abuse or living in an environment where someone is being physically abused can be psychologically devastating for a child as that child is susceptible to depression which leaves the people around him and his immediate environment unsafe. Such a child is also likely to have low intelligence quotients (IQ), lower than usual.
Delinquency
Violent punishments lead to delinquency in adolescents and subsequently violent crimes therefore these adolescents become socialized in violent behaviour and by default angry and confused.
The anger may become directed towards parents, or other children and the possibility of these adolescents becoming troublesome, aggressive, or withdrawn, and isolated is very high.
Physical injuries:
Victims of domestic violence whether children or adults suffer physical injuries such as minor cuts, scratches and bruises, others more serious like broken bones, internal bleeding, head trauma, to mention but a few.
Emotional injuries
Victims often have low self esteem, having difficulties in trusting others; meanwhile the anger and stress experienced by these persons lead to emotional disorders, harmful health behaviour like excessive smoking, alcohol abuse, use of drugs and engaging in risky sexual activity.
The way forward
To remedy the domestic violence situation in Nigeria, all stakeholders must be involved the communities, religious groups, institutions, government at all levels, where trained counselors would assist in propagating the anti-domestic violence campaign should be organized. There is need to create awareness at these forums, to underscore the fact that violence in the home serves as a breeding ground for violence in the society.
The need to regard domestic violence from a psychological rather than a socio-cultural perspective should be emphasized. People should be made to understand that adults can change the social norms that justify domestic violence.
Due to lack of positive response, victims no longer seek legal redress: therefore, laws on the violation of human rights should be solidified and will implemented on perpetrators.
Women and girls should be sensitized and educated to draw a line between love and abuse.
Initiating a social change has never been an over night process, but no matter the reasons, domestic violence is an aberration and the law must prosecute and punish those who inflict psychological and physical pain on others while protecting the victims of such ignominious acts.