CHAPTER 1

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Violence against women is increasingly becoming a pandemic that needs to be eradicated and eliminated. Violence against women could come in different forms which results to physical, mental and sexual consequences. Sexual violence against women is one of the most oppressive forms of gender inequality as well as the most widespread and least recognized human right abuses in the world (Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, ‘CARE’, 2010). Sexual violence occurs in both gender but is known to affect the female gender more commonly. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), sexual violence is any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts of traffic, or otherwise directed, against a person’s sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim in any setting, including but not limited to home and work. In simple term sexual violence is any sexual act that is carried out without the persons consent and against someone’s will. Sexual violence, including sexual harassment, frequently occurs in institutions assumed to be ‘safe’, these includes; churches/mosques, schools, place of work, where the perpetrators are pastors/imams, colleagues and even teachers. Sexual abuse is a grievous offense that shouldn’t be taken lightly but it is still surprising that discussions on it is often avoided.

Gender based violence (GBV) is a common practice in the Sub-Saharan Africa and sexual violence prevalence is high. According to the Gender Equality Index Report, which includes data on; employment, empowerment and reproductive health, 27 out of the 30 countries in the world that exhibits unequitable gender indices are in Africa. The African cultural beliefs and traditions promotes men hierarchy in sexual relations and this has led to a certain rate of sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) in Nigeria. Few things unite Nigerians like the numerous stories of sexual abuse, intrenched in tradition, scattered across tribes and cultures, and perpetrated mostly against women. The exposure of the backwardness of a country is evident in her prevalent rape culture, backed by cultural sentiments of male supremacy and dominance. Studies from Nigeria has shown that the prevalence of sexual IPV ranges from 20% to 31%. The prevalence of sexual violence is quite difficult to estimate because of variations in how data sources defines sexual violence and most sex crimes go unreported. According to a study in Nigeria, it was reported that only 22.9% of respondents who had experienced rape reported the offense to the police. The reasons for this are not far-fetched, as most people fear the risk of not being believed, socially ostracized and being blamed, but how do we even blame someone’s pain for another person’s pleasure? We also see that most of the rape perpetrators are known to the victim, and could even be a family member. And it is known for most Nigerian home to cover it up all for the sake of ‘protecting the family’s reputation at all cost’, thereby leaving the burden for the victim alone to bear.  Also, according to Amnesty International, the police forces in Nigeria are reported to have perpetrated acts of rape and other sexual abuse against women, in public locations or even when they go and file a complaint.

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