30m Nigerian Women, Girls Experiencing Gender based-Violence –SHE Campaign

A non-government organisation, SHE 2 Orange Nigeria Campaign, has disclosed that no less than 30 million women and girls are experiencing gender-based violence in the country.

The SHE Campaign Project led by the wife of former vice president, Titi Amina Abubakar, in a statement on the UN-led 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, said violence against girls and women do not only constitute human rights violation, but results in social and economic costs on the system.

The statement said, SHE campaigns stands with girls and women across the world to end violence, under the auspices of the UN-led 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence – a campaign which was originated by the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991.

It was coordinated by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership, and supported by both the UN Secretary General’s UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women Initiative and the UN Women’s Orange the World Campaign.

However, a statement by the organisation, said, “The disheartening facts about Gender-based Violence within the Nigerian context means that about 30 million women and girls have experienced or are currently experiencing some form of violence on the basis of gender, as more than 1 in 3 women experience gender-based violence during their lifetime.

“Violence against girls and women is not only a glaring violation of human rights, it also results in substantial public and social costs, affecting girls’ and women’s educational, economic, and civic participation, while straining justice systems and social and health services.

“These contribute towards significant economic losses, considering that research indicates that the cost of violence against women could amount to two percent (2%) of the global gross domestic product (GDP) and that domestic violence against women and children costs the global economy $8 trillion.

“This signifies that this fight against Gender-based Violence will require that we all get involved, leaders of government and corporate institutions, civic society organizations and more importantly citizens from all spheres of life and influence, to ensure that we protect this generation and generations to come from the long-term and life-threatening consequences of violence.”

The statement further added that the SHE 2 Orange Nigeria Campaign is calling on youths across Nigeria to lead the charge and make a contribution in their communities, schools, workplaces and homes by becoming a part of the SHE 2 Orange Nigeria Community as Orang4WARRD Volunteers.

“As we look forward to signing up 16 million Orange4WARDD Volunteers across the nation in order to ensure large-scale action to end this serious challenge to sustainable development and gender equality in this decade the SHE 2 Orange Nigeria Campaign will also launch two (2) publications as part of its “UNiTE 2 Educate Against Gender-Based Violence Initiative.

“First, the pilot issue of its ‘Orange4WARRD Magazine’ which will feature 100 Women in Political Leadership as voices against Gender-based Violence; and second, the book ‘Orange Forward for Inclusive Development’ promoting 100 Ways to Activate Global Action to Prevent and Eliminate Violence Against Women and Girls in our society,” it stated.

According to the statement, the UN’s UNiTE campaign has proclaimed the 25th of each month as “Orange Day”, a day to raise awareness and take action to end violence against women and girls.

“To join in and keep this monthly mandate for action going into the coming year, the S.H.E 2 Orange Nigeria Campaign announces this year’s theme which is ‘UNiTE! For Action Against End Gender-based Violence (#100ACTs2Orange Nigeria)’. We all can be part of the solution to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls in our society,” the statement added.

The global theme for this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which ran from 25 November to 10 December 2022, is “UNITE! Activism to end violence against women and girls.”