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My latest report - on how #COVID19 is affecting violence against women and girls in Nigeria - is here: http://www.sddirect.org.uk/media/2062/vawg-helpdesk-q311-nigeria-impact-of-covid19.pdf.
Short thread follows... 1/n
Short thread follows... 1/n
VAWG was widespread in Nigeria before & there has been a significant increase during #COVID19. It's difficult to collect data b/c ethical/ methodological challenges. Also to interpret trends/ patterns b/c incr in awareness of how/ where to report + incr barriers to reporting 2/n
Women’s rights orgs & VAWG services report intra-household tensions have risen increasing likelihood, frequency & severity of intimate partner violence. Husbands can exert coercive/ controlling behaviour & escape breadwinner responsibilities through (threatening) divorce. 3/n
Violence b/w young unmarried heterosexual couples risen as YP spend more time at home & if YW end rels. @TIERsNigeria reports incr physical, emotional & sexual violence in same-sex rels. Also incr violence by partners against sex workers as they no longer provide financially 4/n
Levels of physical violence perpetrated by parents against children is likely on the rise but, given barriers children face to reporting and the widespread acceptance of parental violence (within limits), it was not possible to get clear data on these dynamics 5/n
Disability rights activists report incr. in family neglect, abuse, and confinement.
LGBTQI people, forced to spend more time with family, experience more abuse. They have been thrown out, forced to move in with abusive ex-partners and given shelter by those who robbed them.
6/n
LGBTQI people, forced to spend more time with family, experience more abuse. They have been thrown out, forced to move in with abusive ex-partners and given shelter by those who robbed them.
6/n
Incr sexual violence against children by men of all ages incl father raping daughters
Indications marital rape is increasing
Also corrective rape of lesbian and bisexual women.
Significant risk of survival sex + sexual exploitation b/c hardship
Incr rates of unsafe abortion
7/n
Indications marital rape is increasing
Also corrective rape of lesbian and bisexual women.
Significant risk of survival sex + sexual exploitation b/c hardship
Incr rates of unsafe abortion
7/n
Extent to which #COVID19 has affected dynamics around early and forced marriage in Nigeria is unknown but campaigners worry about a potential increase - as families try to reduce economic burdens + given incr. rates of girls getting pregnant outside marriage.
8/n
8/n
Little evidence on how #COVID19 and related government measures in Nigeria affect rates of female genital mutilation/ cutting but there are indications it has risen according to campaigners - as families spend more time together, husbands' coercive behaviour increases. 9/n
Women’s rights organisations report women whose husbands died during the pandemic have been forced to vacate homes by husbands’ families in the south east. Unclear how much this practice has increased during #COVID19 10/n
Increase in theft, robbery and other criminality has gendered impacts - women & girls experience bulk of this and feel less safe.
Incr. harassment and threats against people who do not conform to gender stereotyped dressing.
Sex workers report increased physical violence.
11/n
Incr. harassment and threats against people who do not conform to gender stereotyped dressing.
Sex workers report increased physical violence.
11/n
Police officers have arrested survivors & extorted money from them
Sex workers affected by police raids on brothels, bars and clubs and crackdown on street sex work
Police officers engage in 'contact tracing' of lesbian, gay and bisexual people for blackmail & extortion
12/n
Sex workers affected by police raids on brothels, bars and clubs and crackdown on street sex work
Police officers engage in 'contact tracing' of lesbian, gay and bisexual people for blackmail & extortion
12/n
Incr cyberbullying, attacks & slut-shaming of women and girls online
Threats to share info, conversations & intimate photos. Entrapment & blackmail of lesbian, gay & bisexual ppl
Some social media posts say #COVID19 is punishment from God for homosexuality/ women’s behaviour
13/n
Threats to share info, conversations & intimate photos. Entrapment & blackmail of lesbian, gay & bisexual ppl
Some social media posts say #COVID19 is punishment from God for homosexuality/ women’s behaviour
13/n
Significant risks for women human rights defenders - subjected to increased trolling, online violence and threats. They also put themselves at risk to respond to survivors and are interacting directly with perpetrators of violence more often.
14/n
14/n
Women’s meaningful participation in formal decision-making v low in Nigeria before
Excl. continues in #COVID19 structures
Gender analysis largely not integrated into planning, implementation, review and policy-making
Not many programmes work to incr women's participation
15/n
Excl. continues in #COVID19 structures
Gender analysis largely not integrated into planning, implementation, review and policy-making
Not many programmes work to incr women's participation
15/n
