The Association of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (ASWHAN) has called for involvement of community, religious leaders and menfolk in general in the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and the promotion of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).
Speaking at the training for Male Champions and Allies on GBV and SRHR organised in partnership with the Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership (RWVL) Project, and funded by Global Affairs Canada and ActionAid Nigerian in Abuja , a representative of ASWHAN, Mrs Patience Iyakwo stated that over the years, the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Nigeria has largely been viewed as a woman’s struggle adding that the training initiative is shifting the paradigm by directly targeting male gatekeepers, community leaders, and religious figures.
She explained that the rationale behind this male-focused strategy is based remain the primary perpetrators of GBV, making their active involvement essential to dismantling deep-rooted patriarchal norms.
Iyakwo noted that as gatekeepers, community and religious leaders hold immense influence and can take this message directly back to their communities.
She said, This training for men is long overdue, training only women and sending them back to uninformed men isn’t taking us anywhere. Most times we’ve done a lot of training on GBV for women, but the truth is that most of the perpetrators of GBV are male.
“Women return home after these trainings to meet men who are not informed, and that is not taking us anywhere.
Iyakwo stated that previous interventions had largely targeted women, leaving out men who needed to be part of efforts to address the problem adding that the association had decided to change its strategy to focus on men because they remained the majority of perpetrators of GBV.
Iyakwo who stressed the need to deconstruct
the culture of silence surrounding gender-based violence which most often protects abusers and leaves survivors without help, pointed out that delayed reporting leads to loss of vital evidence needed for prosecution especially in cases of rape.
She regretted that n spite of the existence of agencies and policies established to address GBV, poor reporting of GBV cases, remains a major obstacle to justice, stressing that many survivors reported incidents to community leaders instead of appropriate authorities like the Police, NAPTIP and FIDA among others.
“This training is long overdue because the men gathered here are gatekeepers in their communities. They are influential and will take these messages back to other men,” she said.
Also speaking, Development Consultant, Mr Martin-Mary Falana, blamed the increasing and persistent cases of rape, incest and other forms of GBV in the country on culture of silence, harmful social norms and weak implementation of existing laws .
Falana said many survivors and their families remained reluctant to pursue justice because of stigma, while political interference often frustrated law enforcement efforts.
According to him, the consequences of GBV extended beyond physical injuries to depression, trauma, suicide risks and lifelong infections, including HIV and hepatitis.
Falana said that women living with HIV faced multiple forms of discrimination, including eviction from their homes, domestic violence and abandonment due to misconceptions surrounding the disease.
He observed that high-ranking individuals frequently intervene to shield perpetrators from prosecution adding that fear of community ostracization forces many families to settle severe cases quietly out of court through local traditional councils.
Falana pointed out that survivors, particularly women living with HIV face heightened risks of physical abuse, forced eviction, depression, and secondary transmission of incurable health conditions
He argued that the consequences of GBV extended beyond physical injuries to depression, trauma, suicide risks and lifelong infections, including HIV and Hepatitis.
He emphasized the need for traditional and religious leaders tuse their influence to challenge harmful cultural norms and publicly condemn violence against women and girls.
He stated that if communities begin to sanction perpetrators and leaders consistently speak against GBV, society will gradually change,” .
On his part,Ezeigbo of Nyanya Community, Dr Charles, Ogbuke noted that community leaders have a significant role to play in eliminating all forms of gender based violence and ensuring that communities are safe for all.
Ogbuke noted that the traditional institutions has the responsibility to discourage harmful cultural practices and gender stereotypes that fuel violence and discrimination against women and girls.
He emphasized that male ego and institutionalized everyday sexism play massive roles in domestic conflict.
Ogbuke pointed out how young boys are often socialized into feeling superior to girls even in workplace settings where menial tasks like sweeping or cleaning toilets are automatically assigned to female staff.
“If you allow a young boy to grow up with that mentality of superiority, he carries it into his marriage, and the cycle of violence continues,” he added. “Men must learn to stop belittling women, consult their wives as equal partners, and lead by example from the home to the office.”
The Chief Imam of Karmajiji Community Mosque, Abdullahi Dauda, described sexual assault and domestic abuse as taboo and entirely unjustifiable under any faith.
“No religion warrants anyone to perform such bad acts,” Chief Imam Dauda stated.
He emphasized the need for faith leaders to educate young men and women on discipline, respect, and moral integrity.
Addressing the issue of child vulnerability and sexual exploitation, the cleric urged parents to fulfill their children’s basic needs directly rather than giving them loose cash, which predators often use as bait. He also highlighted the underreported issue of male victims, noting that young boys are also targeted for sexual abuse within communities
described the initiative as timely and consistent with the values of faith, compassion and justice.
Dauda attributed GBV partly to poor parental upbringing, inadequate moral discipline and lack of quality secular and religious education.
education.
