Advocacy, enlightenment and education are
being carried out in bringing to the fore the plight of victims of rape, defilement,
domestic violence and police brutality in Nigeria. While these efforts have received both local and international
attention with the setting up of gender and human rights desks in police
stations. Government has also established special offences courts to assist to
expedite cases of sexual abuse and related crimes. Government in some states in
Nigeria like Lagos, Ekiti among others have set up a sexual offences register
where perpetrators of rape and defilement‘s photos and names are published.
Investigations have shown that despite
all these efforts , justice is still elusive for some victims as
they further get victimized in their quest to get justice for crime committed
against them; these victims should not be described as survivors, for survivors
are those who have gotten justice said human rights activists in Nigeria. According
to the Oxford Dictionary, a victim is ‘’(someone) singled out for
cruel or unjust treatment’’.
The victimized victims according to human
rights advocates, are technically, victims who suffer further
violence from their abusers, state actors like the police, the government
agencies, the family, religious bodies and the society at large who do not want
them to speak up, speak out and pursue justice. Such ways employed to
frustrate and add more pains to the battered victims include
threat, intimidation, coercion to agree to settlement out of court, beating ,
assault, arraignment in court and prison custody on trump up charges.
The World Health Organisation (WHO’s 2002) World Report on violence and health put forth
a definition of violence in which violence is: The intentional use of physical
force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or
against a group or community, that either results in or has a high likelihood
of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment or
deprivation’ (Krug, et.al., 2002; 4).
According to Scivar
(2015), psychological violence includes lies, brainwashing, other types of
indoctrination, threats, and other forms that serve to reduce mental
potentialities' (ibid.) and does not prioritize the influence of one form over
the other. The meaning of violence was expanded and explained as a broad
manifestation that might take both physical and non-physical forms and occur on
both a personal and structural level. 'Violence exists when people are
influenced in such a way that their actual physical and mental realizations
fall short of their potential realizations' (ibid.).
A common type of violence is domestic violence
and its
widespread in Nigeria described as the most common and socially condoned way in
which women and girls are denied their basic rights, according to a 2007
assessment by DFID, with the most major result being fear, which hinders
women's social and political engagement (UNDP, 1997).
Victimized victims can fall more within the gender-base /domestic violence bracket.
Domestic violence, according to Snugg et al., is defined as
"past or present physical and/or sexual violence between former or current
intimate partners. Reports by the United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crimes UNODC in 2021 revealed that every 11 minutes, a
woman was killed by family members in 2020. The report also stated that 81,000
women were killed globally. Some of these women have had their eyes blinded,
their teeth removed, their arm broken, and businesses destroyed while others
have been killed.
The definition adds
that domestic violence can happen to anyone regardless of race, age, sexual
orientation, religion, or gender”, and can take many forms, including physical
abuse, sexual abuse, emotional, economic and psychological abuse (Office of
Violence Against Women, 2007).
VICTIMISED
VICTIM-ISM LOOKS LIKE …..
Mrs. P had
problem with one of her tenants and her tenant reported to the police.
Mrs. P had alleged that when police came to arrest her, she was assaulted and
dehumanized and her hair was shaved by a policewoman. Mrs. P has alleged that
she was physically and sexually assaulted while in police custody after she was
arrested. She added that she lost a three month old pregnancy and her 9 year old
child was also assaulted by the policemen who came to arrest her. Mrs. P said
she was deceived that the case would be settled amicably between her and her tenant.
However, immediately she arrived the police station a few week
after her was released on bail, she was bundled straight to court
and charged by the police with malicious damage, stealing.
Before Mrs. P was hurriedly arraigned in court last week, she has cried out
through a petition seeking justice. Sadly, following her arraignment on seven
court charges, she is no longer willing to speak out and seek justice for
the crimes allegedly committed against her by police officers and
others.
A human right officer has this to say ‘’There is a
case of a woman where her husband removed one of her eyes. The State
office where the man and the woman work got involved in the matter and tried to
stop him from being prosecuted. At the end of the day, that man has left the
woman and he said he cannot live with a blind woman. Also, there is
also a case of a lawyer who beat his wife up and removes four of her front
teeth. The family pressured this woman and she later went to lie to the police
that it was not her husband that injured her. Three Senior Advocates of Nigeria
(SANS) called me that I should not continue with the case and the man should
not be jailed. They begged me that the case should not be reported to the media
. They were all trying to save the reputation of the man and their profession
not minding that the woman has been left with an enduring mark for life. Nobody
sees the pain the woman is passing through but as soon as she can no longer
bears it and reports to the authorities, they demonise her and she is
stigmatize and due to this, the woman is no longer interesting in prosecuting
her husband. She went to the police and recanted her statement against her
husband ’’
Reports obtained from human rights advocates reveal that
such violent men can abandoned their homes after they are left off
the hook.
‘’ These men are usually called by social workers and
asked why they abandoned their families. The child right laws 2015 of Lagos
state can be invoked and the man can be prosecuted under that law. He is called
by the social workers and asked how much he can give towards the upkeep of the
child or children. He cannot just walk away and leave the responsibility
of the home to the woman alone. Some of them can decide to go back to the home.
But the relationship between the couple is already strained and about 90
percent of such men do not go back to their homes. They just want to punish the
women for reporting them to the police and trying to get justice’’ Social
Worker.
A victimized victim is a defeated victim, who suffers double jeopardy in the
quest for justice according to right groups and such victims carry scares for
life which might ultimately lead to mental health issues and
to suicide if not urgently addressed
Victimized victims spoke why
they have refused to seek justice ‘’ My husband is innocent and I want him
released immediately. I has been married for twelve years with three
children and have suffered years of domestic violence in the hands
of my husband who beat me up over flimsy issues. When the rights
group stepped in and rescued me , I refused the police from
prosecuting my husband. I went to the police and told them that it was not
my husband that wounded me. I told them so because my husband’s family called
me and they threatened me. Also my family called me to come to the village to
resolve the issue. My children also told me to go and release their father from
the police custody if not they will not eat my food. So what do I do?
That was why I went to lie to get him released. In short, I don’t want the
police to give me justice, I leave him to God ’’.
A woman who requested anonymity said "My husband beats me at the slightest
opportunity. This particular incident happened as a result of a young man who
came to our house to fix our fan. My husband was angry that he was not at home
and I allowed a young man to come into the house. He went on to probe us by
saying why was the young .man sweating and I too was sweating too. He asked why
the young man locked the room but the young man said the door locked by itself
. He went on to tell me that I have guts to bring a man to our house to sleep
with me .He started quarreling after the young man left. After going to the police to recant that my husband was
not the one that beat me up and broke my hand. After ignoring the advice of the
human rights advocates who helped me to get him arrested, he came back home and
moved out of the house . He has gone to live with his mistress and I learnt he
is planning to marry her., He said he did it to punish me for reporting him to
police. I don't want justice anymore. I want him back and I will not report him
to police ever again ‘’
Socio-cultural
variables such as sex role socialization, political marginalization, and a lack
of economic empowerment among others, intensify gender-based violence. They
place a premium on male superiority, which has been stated, emphasized, and
sanctioned by a wide range of religious, cultural, and political organizations
(Izuegbu, 1987). If
the above is given a deeper thought, the victimized victim suffers double
from violence , depression, withdrawal syndrome, low self-esteem, and are
unpleasant said human rights advocates.
According to Vitanza, Vogal, and Marshall, Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder (PSTD) symptoms include flashbacks, intrusive images, increased
startle response, nightmares, and avoidance of abuse-related situations (1995).
These symptoms frequently remain a long time after the person is removed from
the toxic environment. (PTSD) can lead to poverty, low self esteem, mental
health issue, low productivity, depression and murder and suicide (Heise et
al., 1994). (Astbury, 1999; Ellsberg et al., 1999; Fikree and Bhatti,
1999), (Astbury, 1999; Ellsberg et al., 1999; Fikree and Bhatti, 1999).
(Astbury, 1999; Ellsberg et al., 1999; Fikree and Bhatti, 1999).(Barnett,
2001).
In order for victims not to end up as
victimized victims which further exacerbate their plight, human rights promoters, said justice for victims of crime
like the ones mentioned earlier can come in varied ways like providing support
for identified victims of violence and providing succour for their pain is
alternative resolution method being advocated .This method is
adopted by human right groups. Taking them to see a doctor, a
psychologist and counselor aided a quick recovery of their plight and pain. This
type of intervention is considered critical for protecting health and breaking
cycles of violence from one generation to the next (WHO 2009).
According to WHO 2009,
promoting gender equality to prevent violence against women demonstrates that
school and community interventions can promote gender equality and prevent
violence against women by addressing misconceptions and cultural norms that
give men authority and control over women. School-based initiatives address
gender norms and attitudes before they become deeply embedded in children and
teenagers. Trials have been conducted for the Safe Dates program in the United
States and the Youth Relationship Project in Canada.
Other interventions
appear promising, including those targeting youth violence and education
through entertainment (“edutainment”) aimed at reducing intimate partner
violence. (WHO 2009). Programmes aiming at building
life skills in children and adolescents have been found to reduce aggression,
violence, improve social skills, increase school accomplishment, and improve
employment chances. These consequences are more noticeable in children from
low-income households and communities. The advantages of high- quality programs
that invest in people early. (WHO 2009).
In addressing police
brutality, misuse of power and other vices against civilians, the Nigeria
police have set up human rights desks, public complaints units, among others to
look into such complaints. Also, as a way of
preventing domestic/ gender based violence, The Nigeria Police Force
through its Spokesperson CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi in a recent video called
on Nigerians to report cases of domestic violence to the Force. CSP
Adejobi ‘s call condemning domestic violence came shortly after the demise of
Nigeria Christian musician Osinachi Nwachukwu.
