The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has raised concern over the high rate of unreported Sexual and Gender-Based violence (SGBV) in Nigeria, saying 58 percent of survivors do not seek help or report their experiences.
The agency also stated that 21 per cent of Nigerian women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical or sexual violence.
The figures were presented during a two-day SGBV Media Corps Workshop organised by NAPTIP with support from the European Union Support to End Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (ESGBV) Programme, implemented by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).
The workshop also marked the launch of the SGBV Media Corps, an initiative designed to strengthen the capacity of journalists to report cases of sexual and gender-based violence more ethically, accurately and responsibly.
The programme targets the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Benue, Kaduna and Oyo states, with a focus on improving public engagement, strengthening community-based communication and promoting access to reliable information on SGBV prevention and response.
Speaking during the workshop, Toyin Adewale-Gabriel, one of the facilitators, said the 21 per cent prevalence rate demonstrated the scale of violence against women in Nigeria.
She said the fact that more than half of survivors do not report or seek assistance made it even more important for the media to provide accurate information and create an environment in which survivors feel safe seeking help.
Ms Adewale-Gabriel said responsible reporting could help build public confidence in institutions and encourage survivors to access available support services. Premium Times)