In the Niger Delta, violence against women and girls (VAWG) persists despite ongoing efforts by stakeholders.
Between 2015 and 2023, at least 490 cases of VAWG were recorded by the peace map of the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND).
This year alone, reported incidents include rape, witchcraft-related violence, domestic abuse, girl-child molestation, and targeted ritual killings, posing significant threats to human and women’s security with potential socio-economic and political repercussions.
The PIND Foundation has been at the forefront of addressing VAWG in the Niger Delta, investing time and resources in collaboration with local organizations. PIND remains committed to continuing these efforts for the 2023 commemoration of the 16 days of activism.
In line with the subtheme for the commemoration this year, “Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women & Girls in the Niger Delta Region”, PIND is working with six female-headed organizations to conduct targeted awareness campaigns, skills acquisition, and capacity-building activities. The organizations include the South-South Professional Women Association (SSPWA) in Edo State, the Women Empowerment Education and Peace Building Initiative (WEPBI) in Imo State, and the Development Initiative for Community Impact (DICI) in Delta.
Others include the Women and Community Livelihood Foundation (WOCLIF) in Akwa Ibom State and the Betterliving Foundation and Capacity Development (BEFCAD) in Ondo State.
This year, the UNiTE campaign theme, “Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women & Girls”, emphasizes the critical need to finance strategies preventing and halting violence at its roots. This approach aims to leverage global normative and advocacy platforms, fostering momentum and uniting collective efforts to eliminate violence against women.
Tunji Idowu, PIND’s Executive Director, said despite global efforts, violence against women and girls (VAWG) remains a rampant human rights violation.
Idowu cited that the United Nations reports that nearly one in three women worldwide—approximately 736 million—have experienced physical and sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence.
“In Nigeria, and specifically in the Niger Delta, weak enforcement and discriminatory social norms continue to hinder the effectiveness of interventions,” Idowu said.
“It’s not just a women’s issue; it’s a societal problem that demands collective action. Break the silence, challenge norms, and build a world free from fear,” he said.
As part of activities marking this year’s 16 days of activism, PIND has included Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in all the activities and has engaged the Freky Andrew-Essien Care Foundation in Rivers State (PWD), which will collaborate with other PWD-focused organizations to address issues affecting them in line with the campaign theme.
The initiative aims to mobilize collective actions to prevent VAWG, empower women, and enhance the economic security and safety of PWDs.
The 16 days of activism, which began on November 25, included some campaigns and activities by PIND’s partner organizations.
The Foundation organized a series of training sessions for persons with disabilities on the prevention of gender-based violence and also promoting the initiative of not keeping silent.
In Akwa Ibom State, 30 persons with disabilities (PwDs) were trained with skills in making of liquid soap, perfume, disinfectant and confectioneries. After the training, the PwDs were given start-up materials to start their businesses.
With the training, it is expected that the PwDs will retain their self-esteem and no longer be seen as beggars but as people who are also contributing positively to society. They will now be thinking beyond their immediate daily survival to exercise greater control over both their resources and life choices and contribute to the economic development of their communities.
A similar training was conducted for students of the Handmaid School for the Sighted and Visually Impaired in Rivers State. The students were taught about violence and its different forms.
The Women Empowerment Education and Peace Building Initiative (WEPBI) in Imo State in its “Invest to prevent violence against women and girls”, aired an-hour live radio programme on sensitisation and awareness of various forms of gender-based violence on Toast 90.3 F.M Owerri.
During a three-day skill acquisition and entrepreneurship training, the Development Initiative for Community Impact (DICI), one of the PIND’s partners, highlighted strategies that could be implemented to prevent violence against women, girls and persons with disabilities. The organisation listed promoting gender equality and social inclusion through age-appropriate education in schools and communities as some of the strategies.
Others are raising awareness on the rights of women, girls and persons with disabilities through public campaigns, workshops, community mobilization and engagement.
On its part, the Women and Community Livelihood Foundation (WOCLIF) focused the campaign on social inclusion as the way to go for the sustainability of development programmes. The organisation said the training for PwDs would enhance their dignity as they take up active roles in society. They were given start-up materials to start making their liquid soap, disinfectant, perfume, egg rolls, and buns.
