The DOHS Foundation March Against Femicide in Nigeria
The DOHS Cares for Vulnerable Women and Children Foundation (DOHS) on April 4, 2024, will march to raise awareness of femicide and advocate for stronger legal protections.
This femicide march serves a critical purpose; to present a draft of the Femicide Bill to the Lagos State House of Assembly. The acknowledgement and passing of this bill will be a crucial step towards combating femicide in Nigeria.
Femicide in Nigeria is becoming a gripping reality for every woman, statistics show that between 2020 and 2023, Nigeria documented over 27,000 occurrences of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in five states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) indicating that women there are still vulnerable to various forms of SGBV.
It is not uncommon to log on to your social media page and see a hashtag on femicide trending in Nigeria. It is almost a reality every month when a young woman or girl is a victim of gender-based violence in this deeply misogynistic and patriarchal society. There are no laws to protect them and the court of public opinion dehumanizes the victims, turning them into a cautionary tale.
The Maputo protocol, regarded as one of the most comprehensive and progressive agreements for women's human rights, ensures equality and nondiscrimination for African girls and women. This was adopted over 20 years ago in Mozambique and in the same period Nigeria signed and approved the Maputo Protocol in 2004. However, problems including rape, underage marriage, domestic violence, female genital mutilation (FGM), and other types of abuse continue to exist throughout the nation.
An independent research conducted by Maktaba from July 2023 to February 2024 uncovered 44 reported cases of femicide in Nigeria that made its way to the news. This independent documentation was undertaken as a way to create continuous awareness of femicide which has been an on-and-off conversation in the media.
We owe it to women like Ochanya Ogbanje, Barakat Bello, Uwaila Omozuwa, Hiny Iniobong Umoren, Bamise Ayanwole, Precious Okeke, Osinachi Nwachukwu, Augusta Osedion, Justina Otuene Nkang, Sarah Adesanya, and other countless women and girls who were victims that we don’t remain silent and accept this as the norm.
Here is how you can support this march;
- Share information about the march on social media using the hashtag #CallItFemicide
- Follow the DOHS foundation on all social media platforms @DOHScares and share their posts to create awareness.
- Show solidarity by supporting the march physically and/or online.
- Contact your representatives and the Ministry of Women's Affairs and urge them to support the implementation of the Femicide Bill.
Together, we can ensure that we honour the memories of those we lost and fight for a future free from femicide.