The rise in Domestic and Sexual Violence during Pendency of the Pandemic/Lockdown

Statistics show that there is an incessant rise in the percentage of persons suffering from domestic and sexual violence. Experts and Professionals dealing with family and domestic affairs have reported a rise in reports of domestic violence thereby leaving these Organizations with a great number of domestic and sexual violence cases to deal with as victims have now proved that more than before when they could take the heat, the lockdown has made the issue of domestic violence less bearable for them thereby resorting to their cry for help to these organizations.

The United Nations (hereinafter called UN) says around 23% of women in Nigeria are victims of domestic and sexual violence by their husbands. However, most women don’t come forward because of the fear of the end result of such reports. For instance, the practice of sacrificial cleansing rites to be done to cleanse a victim who reported in order for the victim to be accepted and welcomed back to their community and in cases where such victim has children, the fear of labelling their spouse an abuser pushes them to keep quiet and take the heat rather than be put out in public in the name of protecting their family.

Domestic violence is a crime and recognized in the Nigerian society as a menace that needs to be curbed and in response to this menace, there are laws, statutes, organizations and bodies which have been set up with the sole aim of curtailing the menace and protecting the right of women and children.

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