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UN concerned over high rate of rape cases in Nigeria during lockdown
By Modupe Shodeinde
The United Nations has expressed concerns over the high rate of Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria.
It stated the Nigeria recorded over 3,600 rape cases during the lockdown brought by the Covid-19 pandemic.
This was made known during the launch of the Violence Against Women and Girls Situation Room – Spotlight Initiative.
The programme was jointly organised by the European Union, UN and Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to enhance data availability on Gender-Based Violence.
The Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, Amina Mohammed, said the UN was committed to continuing the cooperation with the Ministry of Women Affairs to strengthen the availability of data on violence against women and girls.
She said that the joint EU-UN Spotlight Initiative’s goal is to ensure all women and girls, particularly those most vulnerable, live a life free from violence and harmful practices in Nigeria.
She stated that “The need for this initiative has perhaps never been as evident as amid the COVID – 19 pandemic, which has affected the whole world including Nigeria. The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, has stated that the number of rapes has increased by three times compared to the previous level. During the lockdown, each state in Nigeria has reported over 100 rape cases, equalling over 3,600 rape cases nationwide.
“This points to a shadow pandemic of violence against women and girls on top of the Coronavirus pandemic, and calls for all actors to come together and take urgent action to protect the rights of women and girls.
According to Amina Mohammed, there has previously been insufficient data on Violence Against Women and Girls, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Harmful Practices and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.
She explained that the existing data sources are fragmented with poor coordination of the data collection process.
She said filling this gap and enhancing data availability and capacities is one of the key priorities of the Spotlight initiative.
She explained that, “The National Violence Against Women and Girls Situation Room is an innovative data management and visualization platform which uses technology to enable government, decision-makers and program managers view and analyse data with ease.”
