The annual 16 Days of Activism on Gender-Based Violence Against Women and Girls, spearheaded by civil society, serves as a global call to action. Running from November 25 – the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to December 10 – Human Rights Day, this campaign symbolizes the universal struggle against the pervasive breach of human rights: violence against women.
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.
Despite global efforts, Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) remains a rampant human rights violation. 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.
In the Niger Delta, VAWG persists despite ongoing efforts by stakeholders. PIND’s Peace Map recorded at least 490 incidents of VAWG between 2015 and 2023. 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.
PIND has been at the forefront of addressing VAWG in the Niger Delta, investing time and resources in collaboration with local organizations. For the 2023 campaign, PIND is committed to continuing its efforts under the subtheme ‘Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women & Girls in the Niger Delta Region’ and 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.
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.
Through the course of the 16 Days, PIND will sustain its social media campaign, using platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube (@pindfoundation and @pindfoundation1), to raise awareness about VAWG and other challenges faced by women and girls in the Niger Delta. Join us in the collective effort to bring about positive change and end the cycle of violence in our communities.
