WOMEN’S RIGHTS ADVOCATES POLICY ADVISORY FOR THE PREVENTION OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS DURING THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.4.3″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.4.3″][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.4.3″ type=”4_4″][et_pb_image src=”http://wardcnigeria.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Screen-Shot-2020-04-28-at-2.34.23-PM.png” _builder_version=”4.4.3″ hover_enabled=”0″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.4.3″][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.4.3″ type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.3″ hover_enabled=”0″]We, the undersigned organizations recognize that since the outbreak of the 2019 novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a major mitigation strategy employed by governments worldwide is the imposition of lockdown of economic and social activities in a bid to curtail the spread of Coronavirus.
The various financial stimulus strategies adopted by Governments including moratoriums on economic empowerment interventions are welcome and will go a long way in easing the situation.
However, while the ‘stay-at-home’ order serves to protect families from the disease, it has the tendency to worsen sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) against women and girls.
Experience from other countries, like China, shows a corresponding rise in the number of women reporting increased incidences of domestic violence. Tensions arising from the economic impact of the lockdown such as reduced income and financial difficulties are contributing to this surge.
Nigeria is currently working to contain the spread of the Coronavirus as well as implementing its responses to the impact of total and partial lockdown across the country.
On 29 March 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the cessation of movement for residents of FCT, Lagos and Ogun State. The President acknowledged that the restrictions will impose hardship on Nigerians but emphasized that the pandemic is a matter of life and death.
In some instances, sexual and gender-based violence is a matter of life and death in Nigeria. Reports and anecdotal evidence from the work of many of the undersigned groups affirm this assertion.
Pre-existing economic hardships, where an estimated ninety-one (91) million citizens live below global daily survival benchmark, is already bad enough. It is only a matter of time that existing forms and prevalence will rise beyond the current index of one-in-three Nigerian women and girls experiencing SGBV in private and public spaces.
We therefore call on Nigeria’s Federal and State Governments to ensure respect of women’s human rights and protection from gender-based violence within the context of the lockdown in FCT, Lagos and Ogun States, and other states in total or partial lockdown. We are also concerned that the President’s speech did not address the issue of gender-based violence during this hard time. There was no mention of the needed measures to monitor and curb the escalation of gender-based violence. Measures that indicate how SGBV victims can access help in the restricted conditions of the lockdown were not included. Essential services and facilities in form of short term (shelters), legal and trauma counselling services when required should be included.
As the nation locks down, and in a bid to prevent the pandemic, it is important that these support and protection services are available and accessible so that women are shielded from the risks of transferred aggression in their homes. Focused sensitization and information on essential services are important for women and other marginalized groups who may be in violent situations arising in family settings, neighborhoods or from the actions or inactions of other state and non- state actors.
From experience, it is our opinion that in these circumstances it will be more difficult for women to seek help or escape from abusive relationships particularly where they live with the abusive partner during the lockdown. Equally worrisome is that children are also open to more violence and will need protection during this period.
In response to these potential risks and challenges, we call on Governments to:
· Designate and strengthen Gender Desks and family support units within police departments and other department of governments;
· Ensure that the family support Unit and Gender Desk are provided with effective telephone hotlines that persons with disabilities and vulnerable citizens can report domestic violence or any other gender-based violence and get immediate help;
· Ensure that within and beyond this COVID 19 crises, support resourcing and access are extended to organizations responding to domestic violence to provide assistance, including shelter, counselling, and legal aid to SGBV survivors;
· Ensure that in the COVID-19 awareness programs on radio and television, targeted information dissemination on gender-based violence prevention is prioritized;
· Direct provision of designated public services, including shelters, to remain open and accessible to vulnerable people during this period as essential services;
· Launch and intensify public enlightenment campaigns aimed at preventing and containing the spread of the virus, including sign language, closed caption and other appropriate means;
· Consult and work with civil society organizations in all initiatives to provide information and services to the public; · Target persons with special needs providing information and resources to alleviate their vulnerabilities especially those needing shelter (IDPs), migrants, refugees, and neurotypical persons;
· Ensure that pregnant women and other women at risk in hospitals and detention centers, who are at higher risk of contagion during this crisis, enjoy appropriate care to address their needs;
Lastly, we call on Nigeria’s Federal and State Governments to monitor and ensure that restrictions taken in the public interest do not result in any gender-specific harm to women and girls who are already extremely vulnerable and at risk of being denied their basic human rights.
SIGNED BY PARTNERS Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Executive Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC)
Saudatu Mahdi (MFR), Secretary General, Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA)
Joy Ada Onyesoh (PhD), Country Director, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)
Nigeria ENDORSED BY THE FOLLOWING ORGANISATIONS/PERSONS:
1. 100 Women Lobby Group, Change Managers International Network
2. Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls
3. Accountability Lab Nigeria
4. ACEP
5. ACP Initiative
6. ACSS Alumni Nigeria Chapter
7. ActionAid Nigeria
8. ACTS Generation GBV
9. Ada Agina-Ude
10. ADEM Community & Human Development Foundation
11. Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF)
12. Adonai Health and Development Foundation (AHADEF)
13. Advocacy Centre for Development
14. Afri Foundation
15. African Citizens’ Initiative for Rights and Development (ACIRD)
16. African Disability Forum
17. African Community Development Initiatives
18. African Women Empowerment Guild
19. African Women Entrepreneurship Programme (AWEP)
20. African Women’s Initiative
21. African Women Nigeria
22. African Women Water Sanitation & Hygiene Network (AWWASHNet)
23. Against All Odds Foundation (AGAOF)
24. Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation
25. Akin Fatunke & Co
26. Alauchi Women Development Initiative
27. Alliances for Africa
28. Ambassadors Community Empowerment Organization
29. Arise Nigerian Woman Foundation
30. Association of Aliwe Daughters International
31. Association for Childhood Education Practitioners (ACEP)
32. Association of Nigeria Women Business Network (ANWBN)
33. Association of Women in Trade and Agriculture
34. Ayisha Osori
35. Azuka and Ify Development Foundation
36. BEFA Women and Child Care Foundation
37. BoT Netete Initiative
38. BraveHeart Initiative
39. Bring Back Our Girls
40. CAFSO Women’s Rights Action Group
41. Caring Culture
42. Cece Yara Foundation
43. CedarSeed Foundation
44. CEE-HOPE Nigeria
45. Centre for Advancement of Development Rights (CEADER)
46. Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD)
47. Center for Economic Empowerment and Gender Activities (CEEGA)
48. Centre for Media and Development Communication
49. Centre for Media Resources in Development (CEMERDEV)
50. Centre for Social Transformation and Human Development
51. Centre For the Empowerment of Women, Youth Development, Care and Rehabilitation of the Aged (Cewoy Cara)
52. Centre for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN)
53. Centre for Research in Environmental Resource Management
54. Challenged Parenthood Initiative (CPI)
55. Chikun Women Farmers Association
56. Child Development and Support Initiative
57. Child Education and Crime Eradication Foundation (CECEF)
58. Child Health Organization (CHO)
59. Child to Child Network
60. Children and Adult Empowerment Initiatives (CAADEI)
61. Children and Women’s First International Foundation (CAWFIF)
62. Citizens Center for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR)
63. Civil Society Coalition for Elections
64. CLICE Foundation
65. Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance (CACOBAG)
66. Coalition of Women in Governance
67. Coastal Women Initiative for Business and Human Rights
68. CODAF
69. Collaborative Living and Development Initiative (COLIDEIN)
70. Community Education Advancement of Peace and Development Initiative (CEAPDI)
71. Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR)
72. Community Partners for Development – CPD
73. Community Life Project
74. Community Women’s Right Foundation
75. COMPPART Foundation for Justice and Peacebuilding
76. Country Associates Network (CANET)
77. Courageous People Health and Development Initiative
78. Crestville Development Foundation
79. CSR-in-Action 80. Daria Media Foundation
81. Delta State Civil Society for Good Governance
82. Destiny sisters
83. Development in Practice, Gender and Entrepreneurial Initiative (DIPGEI)
84. Development Outreach International
85. Development Research and Synergy Initiative
86. Dinidari Foundation
87. Disability Rights Advocacy Center (DRAC)
88. Donmary Human and Community Enhancement Initiative
89. Dorothy Njemanze Foundation
90. Dynamic Grassroots Women Youth Empowerment Initiatives
91. Echoes of Women in Africa Initiatives
92. Elixir Foundation
93. Elizabeth Foundation
94. Emerge Women Development Initiative
95. Empowering Women for Excellence Initiative
96. Environmental and Rural Mediation Center
97. Environmental Conflict Mediation and Women Development Initiative
98. Equality Through Education Foundation (ETEF)
99. EVA
100. FACICP Disability Plus
101. Faith Habila
102. FCT Widows Organisation
103. Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN)
104. Female Drivers Association
105. FEMBUD
106. First Future Leadership
107. Gbolekekro Women Empowerment and Development Organization (GWEDO)
108. Gender Awareness Trust
109. Gender Development Initiative
110. Gender Equality, Peace and Development Centre
111. Gender Justice Network
112. Gender Relevance Initiative Promotion (GRIP)
113. Girl Child Africa
114. Girl Education Rehabilitation and Care (GERAC)
115. Girls’ Power Initiative (GPI)
116. Global Fund for Women Grantees Network, Nigeria
117. Global Initiative for Development and Care of Women and Youth (GIDCOWAY)
118. Global Women for Quality and Sustainable Development Initiative (GWSD)
119. Glorious Women Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited
120. Goggoji Zumunchi Development Initiative (GZDI)
121. Good Care for the Child Development and Support Initiative
122. Grass to Amazing Favour Global foundation (GRAFF)
123. Green Ice Foundation
124. Haj Maisuga Empowerment Foundation
125. Halliru Memorial Youth Development and Empowerment Initiative (AYDI)
126. Haly Hope Foundation
127. Hands to Help International
128. Head High International Organisation
129. Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HEFRON)
130. HEIR Women Development
131. Herfessions Initiative
132. Heroine Women Foundation
133. Hope and Rural Aid Foundation (HARAF)
134. Hope for Coastal Women Empowerment Initiative
135. Hope for New life Organisation
136. Hope for the Hopeless Social Development Foundation
137. Hope-Goodness Empowerment Foundation
138. I am light
139. IN-CSR Gender Advocates
140. Initiatives for Development Empowerment and Sustainability for Africa
141. Initiative for Peace and Stability
142. Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD)
143. Initiative for Visionary Education and Social Support (IVESS)
144. Initiative for Youth and Social Development
145. International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria
146. International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH)
147. IWCC
148. Iyaniwura Children Care Foundation
149. Jewels Hive Initiative (JHI)
150. Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities- JONAPWD
151. Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC)
152. Justice, Peace and Reconciliation (JPRM)
153. Kaduna State Market Association
154. Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre
155. Kidunimirye
156. Khairinnisa’i Foundation
157. Kids & Teens Resource Centre
158. Kronikla & Associates
159. League of Queens International Empowerment
160. League of Women Voters of Nigeria
161. Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women
162. Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP)
163. Let’s Help Foundation
164. Life Bridge and Development Foundation
165. Market Women Association Kaduna State
166. Media Concern Initiative
167. Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Bayelsa (MWAN BYS)
168. Merchant of Hope
169. Mimjean Foundation for Women and Children with Disabilities
170. Mojúbàolú Olúfúnké Okome
171. Murtala Muhammed Foundation
172. NlC Women Committee Kaduna State
173. Nigeria Association of Women Journalist Kaduna State
174. National Council for Women’s Societies Nigeria (NCWS)
175. National Democratic Institute
176. Nde Oduko Foundation (NDOF)
177. Neferous Foundation
178. Network of Disabled Women
179. Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria (NRHJN)
180. Nigeria Defence Academy 181. Nigerian Girl Guides Association Anambra State
182. Nigeria Network of NGOs
183. Nigeria Union of Teachers Kaduna South Branch Women’s wing
184. Noble Delta Women for Peace and Development International
185. NoMore234NG
186. Ogayem Merciful Care and Support Initiative (OMCSI)
187. Okerio Okoro Anthony Development Foundation
188. Omowumi Asubiaro Dada
189. One Love Community Development and Promotion of Peace Initiative
190. Online Hub Educational Services
191. Our Lady of Perpetual Help initiative (OLPHI)
192. Ovie Brume Foundation
193. Pan African Young Women Development Initiative- (PAYWODI)
194. Partners West Africa- Nigeria (PWAN)
195. Partnership for Justice
196. Partners for Peace
197. Peace Point Development Foundation -PPDF
198. Peasants Dragnet
199. PEFoundation
200. Positive Outreach Foundation
201. Precious Cares for All Foundation
202. Prime Diamond Initiative for Community Health
203. Prof Mnguember Vicky Sylvester
204. Project Alert on Violence Against Women
205. Public Enlightenment Projects, Abia State
206. RATTAWU North West
207. Rays of Hope
208. REED Center
209. Renascence of Hope Initiative
210. Responsible Citizenship and Human Development Initiative
211. Reube Fulbe Development Centre
212. Rights Enforcement and Public Law Centre (REPLACE)
213. Rural Health and Women Development
214. Scripture Union West Africa (SUWA)
215. Sabon Gari Peace Women initiative Kaduna State
216. Safehaven Development Initiative
217. Save the Child Initiative
218. Selfworth Organization for Women Development
219. Selu Afrique
220. Sessor Empowerment Foundation
221. She Speaks
222. Society for Abused Minors AIDS Victims
223. Society for water and sanitation
224. Son-Kowa Women Association, Kaduna
225. South South Professional Women Association (SSPWA)
226. Speak Out Africa
227. Speaking Fingers Network
228. Stand Out Global Empowerment Foundation
229. Star Ruby Initiative
230. Strategy for Peace and Humanitarian Development Initiative (SPEHDI)
231. Street Project Foundation
232. Tabitha Cumi Foundation
233. Take A Cue Development Initiative
234. The Farid Centre for People with Special Needs
235. The Pukiche Girl Child Foundation (TPGCF)
236. The STAGE for Women Coalition
237. Third Sector Development Solutions
238. Unique Muslim Sister’s Association
239. UTO Foundation
240. Value Rebirth Empowerment Initiative
241. Virgin Heart Foundation
242. Vision Spring Initiative
243. Voice of Akwa Ibom Women
244. Voice of Disability Initiative (VDI)
245. Water for life
246. West Africa Network for Peacebuilding Nigeria (WANEP-Nigeria)
247. Women Aid Collective (WACOL)
248. Women and Youths Environmental Safety and Empowerment Organisation
249. Women Arise Development and Humanitarian Initiative
250. Women Committee, Auptre Kaduna
251. Women Committee, Nigerian Labour Congress Kaduna
252. Women’s Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON)
253. Women Empowerment Initiative
254. Women Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria, (WEAN)
255. Women Environment and Youth Development Initiative (WOYODEV)
256. Women 4 Better Society Network
257. Women for Peace and Gender Equality Initiative
258. Women for Peace and Unity Growth Initiative (WPUGI)
259. Women for Women International Nigeria
260. Women Foundation of Nigeria
261. Women in Distress Organisation
262. Women in Law and Learning (WILL)
263. Women in Leadership Forum of Nigeria
264. Women in Politics Forum
265. Women, Infants and Children Care Initiative (WICCI)
266. Women Initiative for Leadership Strategy & Innovation in Africa (Women Africa)
267. Women Initiative on Climate Change
268. Women Law and Development Centre Nigeria (WLDCN)
269. Women of vision development initiative
270. Women Peace and Security Network
271. Women Peace Builders Network
272. Women Peace Mentors and Mediators Form
273. Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP)
274. Women’s Situation Room Nigeria (WSRN)
275. Women Standard-Bearers International (WOSBI)
276. Women Wing, Christian Association of Nigeria, (WOWICAN)
277. Women with Disability Self Reliance Foundation
278. Women Youths and Children Advancement Program (WOYCAP)
279. Working Fingers International Initiative
280. Youth for Change Initiative
281. Youth Future Savers Initiative (YFSI)
282. Zhihwi Mercy Foundation 283. Zonta International Club of Lagos
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