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
Socio-Economic and Political Context of Domestic Violence in Ghana (Published)
This study examined the prevalence of domestic violence in the socio-economic and political context in Ghana. The study conveniently sampled 200 women within Kumasi metropolis as participants. Data for the study came from both primary and secondary sources. Structured questionnaires were face-to-face administered to the respondents. The data were analyzed with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for windows. The study revealed that the prevalence of Cultural factors had been agreed by respondents as scourge of domestic violence. Acceptability of violence as means to resolve conflict (M=4.7), bride price and dowry (M=4.2), Cultural definitions of appropriate sex roles (M=4.25), Belief in the inherent superiority of males (M=4.3). Prevalence of economic factors were agreed by respondents as follows: Women’s economic dependence on men (M=5.0) limited access to employment in formal and informal sectors (4.26) discriminatory laws regarding inheritance, property rights, use of communal lands (4.2). Prevalence of Political factors were agreed by respondents as follows: Under-representation of women in power, politics, media and in the legal and medical profession (M=4.17), Risk of challenge to status-quo/religious laws (M=4.35). Legal factors included: laws regarding divorce, child custody, maintenance and inheritance (M=4.31) insensitive treatment of women and girls by police and judiciary (M=4.91). More than halve of the respondents indicated that they have even been assaulted by men. The study revealed a significant association between ever been assaulted and employment status (X2=76.9, p-value<0.05, df =6). Again there is a significant relationship between ever been assaulted and education attainment (X2=35.25, p-value<0.05, df =8). There are relationship between females ever been assaulted and age X2=21.13, p-value<0.05, df =8). Policy intervention and reinforcement of the existing legislation is imperative in the civility of these findings.
Keywords: Domestic Violence, Ghana, Political, Prevalence, Socio-Economic, Women