By Lolo Cynthia Ihesie
As cities observe a total lockdown in Nigeria to curb the spread of coronavirus, cases of rape and sexual assault are spiking, with about 80 million women and girls trapped with abusers. For too many, the home has become a battlefield for girls and women subjected to gender-based violence.
As part of its comprehensive response to COVID-19, the government must immediately put in place measures to protect girls and women isolated with their abusers.
Even without the pandemic, combating gender-based violence, GBV, is an uphill battle in Nigeria with approximately 80 million women and girls still victims of GBV.
With the lockdown and heightened emotions, isolation provides fertile ground for abuse to prevail as women are cut away from social or institutional support.
This has proven true in other countries as well. From France to China, GBV rates have been escalating. France reports a 30% increase in domestic violence cases. In Hubei province China, cases…
Source: Vanguard Newspaper
