Violence against Women and Girls during COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown
Coronavirus is good enough, a disease that has set the world in fear. How about, we also worry about the shadow disease that many women and girls may not survive during this lockdown. Most women and girls are on lockdown with their abusers. According to Marzia Akbari, 25 years old Israelis psychologist in Afghanistan, most Afghan women are likely to survive the Coronavirus but might to survive the lockdown”, as 50% of women in Afghanistan face domestic violence in their homes.
Before the pandemic, 243 million women and girls were recorded to have been abused physically, sexually or emotionally by their intimate partners globally. These cases have already surged during this lockdown because of either health or financial tensions. As at April, 2020, Five (5) Israelis women were murdered by their partners. Singapore recorded 33% increase on call-in reports for domestic violence during the lockdown. In Nigeria, NGOs and CSOs have reported tremendous increase in domestic violence at homes. Last month there was an issue where two men fought to death because their wives had a misunderstanding. A husband beats up his wife blue-black because she asked for financial support whilst another beats up his wife because she questioned him about a goat she bought with WFWI (Women For Women Int’l) funds given to her, which he later sold.Youth Alive Foundation through their SAVE-19 project and Call-in report lines has also reported that a lot of women in Nigeria are not safe in their homes, and they cannot freely call for help as they are on lockdown with their controlling and violent partners. Their children are exposed to violence as well because of current pressures at home. These have impacted on their psychological well being, their sexual and reproductive health, mental health and even their ability to call out for help. During this period, women and girls have been placed in more vulnerable position than ever as in light of observing the lockdown measures, are at more risk as crime rate has increased.
In Lagos, there was an unverified viral video of a woman who was constantly intimidated and sexually abused by her husband who she ran out of the house to seek help from passerby but was dragged back into the house by her abuser. Accessing this situation, you would imagine how many women and girls in the country are lockdown with their violators. A 34 year old man in Lagos state was reported for alleged rape of an infant within this period. In addition, Ekiti state recently recorded 54 cases of domestic violence during this period (via GRIP Report). This is very scary and it is important for stakeholders such as FIDA, UN Women and other legal bodies and NGOs to intervene in this situation. We have to protect our women and girls because if they are able to survive from Coronavirus, they may not survive this shadow disease (Lockdown with their abusers). “The funeral will take place every day until the government, civil societies, NGOs and iNGOs do take responsibility and stop violence and all sorts of abuses against women and girls”.
The issue of violence against women and girls cannot be overemphasized; this issue is way deeper than we think. According to Micheal Le Cordeur, the problem lies way deeper: it is an educational problem which requires “global intervention strategy”. Every stakeholder in Nigeria has to prioritize this issue. The government has to implement policies that protect women and girls, and that includes persons with disability.
EDUCATION
Men were raised to see women as inferior beings and their patriarchal attitudes have been encouraged for years. There are boys who grew up with distorted perspective of women, even some men see women as possessions or objects or trophy that they could boast about or use for their progeny. They have to be a reorientation of our male gender, and this has to start at an early age. Boys and Men have to be taught how treat women and girls with care and respect. This has to be instituted as a basic school curriculum, whilst parents ensure this knowledge is embedded into the boys at an early age. Stakeholders needs to include this in their organizations’ orientation booklets and training sessions, and also ensure all gender based violence issues are addressed in their policies. We need to teach our boys ways to communicate and express their feelings without violence, and boundaries to put in place to ensure women and girls are not sexually nor emotionally or physically abused in any way. It is very important that women and girls feel safe in the presence of other gender.SECURITY
Generally, men are known to have superiority complex which reflects even; at their point of duties. Research has shown that policemen usually take complaints brought to them flippantly, they even instruct women to return to their abuser husbands and sort things out. Our security agencies are meant to protect the victims from their abusers instead of handing them back to their abusers. When reports are brought to the police stations, they should either handle it or protect the victims by referring them to legal bodies such as FIDA, National Rights Commission, or NGOs around those areas. In some situations, depending on how expedient it is, sanctions should be made. Security agencies should ensure that a range of sanctions aimed at deterring abuse and violence are put in place.RELIGIOUS BODIES
Religion plays a major role in defining the character and behavior of both male and female gender. Therefore it is important that she discourages every aspects of gender based violence. Churches and Muslim leaders should teach boys and men to treat women and girls as equals. As Christians, the Bible stated that women are weaker vessels, which never meant Women are inferior being and should be abused or treated violently, or deprived from good education or treated lesser. God emphasized that women are softer and needed to be treated with care and love. Thus, it is important that every Pastor and Imam encourage their members to allow the Home to be safe for women and girls this COVID19 Lockdown period, even afterwards. Research has also shown that most pastors and Imams counsel victims and encourage them to stay in the marriages, this is unacceptable, as the lives of women and girls are at risk of being exposed to more violence and abuse, in some situations, most victims do not come out alive. Cases should be reported not protected, only the victims are to be protected.PARENT AND GUIDANCE
One of the common factor that causes violence in men is mostly the absence of a father or father figure in homes, therefore, a lot of children grow up with Daddy issues which directly or indirectly influences their behaviors or how the react to environmental and mental challenges. It is important that every child have a father figure to guide them especially as each transcend from adolescent stage to youths, then to adults. Parents play major role in raising children, a child exposed to violence, has a 50% chance of seeing that as a norm, which may likely be passed from generations to generations. Parents should educate the boys and men on reasons why they should never raise their hands on a female irrespective of the situation.Early sex education is important for both gender, and this should be done by every parent to protect children from prospective abusers. During this period, sexual predators are at close proximity with vulnerable children, therefore, parents should ensure the protect their children by monitoring and reporting any form of suspicious behaviors. Parents should ensure zero tolerance to any form of abuse or violence towards children. Parents and guidance should maintain good communication and be friends with their children, to enable the children to be open with them.
Considering that movements are restricted during the lockdown period, it is important for women and girls to protect themselves from their abusers by calling for help. Youth Alive Foundation has provided contacts where women and girls can call or send messages when the need help. Their team of legal practitioners, therapist and counselors are readily available to respond to any abuse and violence issues during this period. Every conversation is kept confidential and your identities are kept confidential as well.
You can reach them via;
+234 (0) 8188113333,
+234 (0) 7038637816,
+234 (0) 8184211183,
+234 (0) 8141171071,
+234 (0) 9028719731 or
Text “SAVE” to +234 (0) 8188113333
Women and girls should speak out; they should avoid having any form of altercations with their abusers whilst at home this period. They should always ensure that their phones are fully charge so they could call for help at any time. When calling for help, please it is important not to call when your abuser is there because it exposes the victim to more danger. The safety of every victim is more important than any form of data to be generated by their calls. Considering the situation of the economy, women should avoid mounting any form of pressure or making too many demands from their spouse. We encourage women to support each other, be their sister’s keeper, especially those in close neighborhoods. Citizens should call-in and report all cases of abuses or violence, if the victims are unwilling to seek help.