Violence against women declines from 9% to 5% in six years— UN Women

By Favour Ulebor

Abuja-The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, UN Women, has said the prevalence of sexual violence against women in Nigeria declined from 9 per cent in 2018 to 5 per cent in 2024.

UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, disclosed this during the close out of the Ford Foundation-funded traditional and cultural leaders for ending gender-based Violence by Advancing Advocacy, Policy and Social Norms Change in Nigeria and West Africa, LEAP, Project, a three-year initiative implemented by UN Women from 2023 to 2026, on Monday in Abuja.

Eyong, who was represented by the Acting Deputy Representative, Ms. Patience Ekeoba, said the figures are contained in the latest 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, which also shows that physical violence against women since the age of 15 declined from 31 per cent in 2018 to 19 per cent in 2024, while intimate partner violence dropped from 36 per cent to 23 per cent.

Eyong said the progress reflected the positive impact of engaging traditional and religious leaders, noting that over the past three years, many of them had become stronger advocates for the rights and dignity of women and girls helping communities reject harmful practices, promote gender equality and strengthen efforts to end gender-based violence.