NYSC Corpers campaigns against Domestic Violence

A group of youth corpers serving in the FCT ABUJA Nigeria came up with the campaign END VIO with the intention of helping fight the evils of domestic violence. The president of the group John Achilike while speaking to a group of participants during the lunch of the Campaign encouraged everyone to be a part of the fight he said they advocate the end to Domestic violence and at the same time wanting to address the causes.

Someone doesn’t just get violent as there are no smokes without fire. He advised that you know the TEMPERAMENT of your SPOUSE as it is already the beginning he dropped the social media hash tag to which cases of domestic violence could be reported with #ENDTHECYRCLEOFVIOLENCE TODAY!!! #DOMESTICVIOLENCE it begins with you and me… #Endvio we can together confront this monster that has eaten deep into the fabrics of the society… Remember that bad parenting breeds bad behavior.. Say no to DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TODAY!!! it begins with you and me… #Endvio we can together confront this monster that has eaten deep into the fabrics of the society… Remember that bad parenting breeds bad behavior.. Say no to DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TODAY!!!

The problems limiting the fight against DOMESTIC VIOLENCE in Nigeria

Domestic violence in Nigeria is a problem as in many parts of Africa. There is a deep cultural belief in Nigeria that it is socially acceptable to hit a woman to discipline a spouse. Domestic violence is widespread and shows no signs of lessening in Nigeria. The CLEEN Foundation reports 1 in every 3 respondents admitting to being a victim of domestic violence. The survey also found a nationwide increase in domestic violence in the past 3 years from 21% in 2011 to 30% in 2013.

A CLEEN Foundation’s 2012 National Crime and Safety Survey demonstrated that 31% of the national sample confessed to being victims of domestic violence While domestic violence is a violation of fundamental human rights, which the Nigerian Constitution is against, there are still provisions that make it legal to engage in domestic violence against women. The provision of the Penal Code applicable in the Northern part of Nigeria specifically encourages violence against women. Underneath its provisions, the beating of a wife for the purpose of correction is legal by use of (Section 55 (1) (d) of the Penal Code).

Domestic violence takes many forms including physical, sexual, emotional, and mental. Traditionally, domestic violence is committed against females. Common forms of violence against women in Nigeria are rape, acid attacks, molestation, wife beating, and corporal punishment.

The Nigerian government has taken legal proceedings to prosecute men or abuse their women in several states.There is currently a push in Nigeria for federal laws concerning domestic violence and for a stronger national response and support for domestic violence The perceptions of domestic violence vary based on region, religion, and class. For example, the Tiv view wife beating as a “sign of love” that should be encouraged as evidenced with the statement “If you are not yet beaten by your husband then you do not know the joy of marriage and that means you are not yet married”.

All the major ethnic groups in Nigeria- Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa- have strong patriarchial societal structures that lead to the justification of domestic violence. However, the Hausa are more supportive of domestic violence and viewing it as an inherent right of a husband.

There are differences in the perceptions of domestic violence varying across reasons. There are higher numbers for instances like neglecting the children or going out without telling the husband and less for refusal of sex or a mere argument. Many of the reasons that are viewed as acceptable for domestic violence are largely subjective to a husband’s interpretation. For example, common acceptable beatings among men are lack of respect for husband, stubbornness, imposition of will on husband, and failure of wifely duties

The 2008 NDHS did a study to view the acceptability of wife beating in Nigeria. They put forward five scenarios and asked both men and women. With women, there were trends found in viewing wife beating as more acceptable. It was viewed as more acceptable in rural areas, among married versus unmarried women, uneducated women, and poor women. The reason most viewed as justified for beating was going out without telling the husband. The relationships were about the same for men.

Advocate: Charles Matthew's Blog (www.charlesmatthew.blogspot.com)

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