Sexual Violence Against Women and Girls: Prevention and Response for The Elimination in Ekiti State, Nigeria (Published)
Sexual violence against women and girls appears rampant in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Reports of instances of rape and sexual abuse on women and girls including incest are on the increase despite several actions taken by the State and other stakeholders against the act. The study investigated sexual violence against women and girls, prevention measures and response for its elimination in the State. The researcher used both quantitative and qualitative research designs for the study. Information was obtained using both primary and secondary sources. Questionnaire was completed by one hundred and sixty (160) female and male respondents drawn from the State including Non-Governmental Organisations whose focus was on sexual violence. Key informants’ guides were used to interview some sexual violence duty bearers. Data obtained for the study were analysed using frequency counts and percentage scores. The study showed that there was a high prevalence of sexual violence against women and girls in Ekiti State. The findings also indicated that Government had responded positively towards elimination of sexual violence in the State through enacting appropriate laws against offenders and perpetrators caught were fined, jailed or shamed. The study revealed that cases of sexual violence were increasingly reported in the State as against low reportage recorded in the past. Government also made frantic efforts towards prevention of sexual violence against women and girls by establishing a Management Committee comprising relevant stakeholders to check all forms of sexual violence in the State. However, the study discovered that cases of sexual violence against women and girls were still common. The study therefore, recommended that the laws against all forms of sexual violence against women and girls should be effectively implemented in order to completely eliminate the menace in Ekiti State.
Keywords: Girls, Prevalence, Prevention, Response, Sexual violence, Women, elimination