Addressing Gaps in the Reduction of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria

The project aims to contribute to an increased realization of the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women in Nigeria. Project activities include: (1) improving the knowledge and skills of government social workers and health care workers to provide age and culturally appropriate female genital mutilation/cutting and child early and forced marriage prevention and treatment services; (2) upgrading health facilities to provide culturally appropriate and gender-sensitive quality services on harmful traditional practices (female genital mutilation/cutting and child early and forced marriage) as well as obstetric fistula care; (3) supporting advocacy activities carried out by women-led legislative coalitions at community and state levels to domesticate anti-sexual and gender-based violence laws; (4) supporting gender-sensitive and culturally appropriate media activities to raise awareness and mobilize action against harmful traditional practices (female genital mutilation/cutting and child early and forced marriage) and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence; (5) activating community platforms for dialogue on female genital mutilation/cutting child early and forced marriage and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence to reach boys men women traditional gatekeepers and religious leaders; and (6) raising awareness of women and girls of their rights and building their knowledge and capacity to take action against all forms of sexual and gender-based violence. The project is expected to directly reach over 300 000 women girls and boys 10 to 24 years of age and potentially hundreds of thousands more indirectly in the targeted states.

The expected results for this project include: (1) decreased gender-based discriminatory practices and attitudes in health services for women and girls particularly related to fistula and sexual and gender-based violence in focus states; and (2) decreased sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls including harmful traditional practices (female genital mutilation/cutting and child early and forced marriage) in focus states.