The 2024 Womanity Index, funded by the Ford Foundation, provides a comprehensive assessment of Nigeria’s efforts to combat gender-based violence (GBV). The index, which evaluates governments’ progress in preventing and responding to GBV, reveals both positive and concerning trends.
Understanding the Challenge of GBV in Nigeria
GBV remains a pervasive issue in Nigeria, with millions of women and girls facing various forms of violence. The data to measure the extent of GBV is insufficient, making it challenging to design effective interventions.
- GBV affects individuals, particularly women and girls, in various forms, including physical, emotional, and economic violence.
- The lack of data on GBV prevalence and response effectiveness hinders the development of context-specific solutions.
The Need for Data-Driven Advocacy
Data is essential for addressing GBV, as it provides a comprehensive picture of the problem, highlights gaps in response mechanisms, and encourages accountability.
- Data collection and analysis are critical for informing policy decisions and supporting advocacy efforts.
- A lack of data can lead to poorly targeted interventions, inadequate resource allocation, and challenging progress measurement.
The Womanity Index: A Tool for Tracking Progress
The Womanity Index, which evaluates governments’ efforts in preventing and responding to GBV, provides a nuanced portrait of Nigeria’s fight against GBV.
| Index | Indicator | Performance Level |
|---|---|---|
| Laws and Policies | Presence of Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act | Blue (Advancing), Green (Performing), Amber (Evolving), Red (Struggling) |
| Access to Justice | Availability of GBV-designated judges | Blue (Advancing), Green (Performing), Amber (Evolving), Red (Struggling) |
| Support Services | Availability of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) | Blue (Advancing), Green (Performing), Amber (Evolving), Red (Struggling) |
Regional Variations in GBV Responses
Regional variations in GBV responses are evident, with some states making significant progress while others struggle to address the issue.
- Only two states (south-south and south-west) achieved the blue grade, indicating strong progress toward the aspirational target.
- Four states (north central, north-east, north-west, and south-east) are rated amber, indicating gradual progress.
- Three states are rated red, indicating significant challenges.
Examples of Success and Challenges
Several states have made significant strides in addressing GBV, including Katsina, Abia, Taraba, Akwa Ibom, Yobe, and Niger.
“The impact of data-driven advocacy can be seen in the results from several states. Overall, we see performance across states that shows remarkable progress.” – Bukky Shonibare, Founder of Invictus Africa
Steps for Improvement
Several steps must be taken to further improve data collection and tracking, including:
- Investing in standardised and digitised data collection systems that ensure consistency across states.
- Increasing collaboration between law enforcement, healthcare providers, and civil society organisations to streamline reporting mechanisms.
- Intensifying public awareness campaigns to encourage survivors to report cases.
- Allocating dedicated resources to sustain GBV data collection and analysis, as well as evidence-driven prevention and response initiatives.
The Road Ahead
Efforts to combat GBV require a multi-faceted and collaborative approach.
The answer to whether progress is being made is a cautious yes.
