*Why we’re silent — Men

By Funmi Ajumobi & Ebunoluwa Sessou

When it comes to the issue of gender-based violence, the first thing that comes to mind is violence against women. 

Read Also: No Excuse for Violence Against Women

Gender-based violence is always on the front burner every time. 

This time, the campaign is around the alarming escalation of violence against men. 

The efforts to combat violence against women are an ongoing struggle for the rights and dignity of every woman and man.

Research and data continue to show the alarming prevalence of violence, with one in three women worldwide experiencing physical or sexual violence, most often by an intimate partner. These numbers tell us about lives and realities of women whose potentials are stifled by violence and discrimination. 

However, statistics show that women have changed the narrative. Rather than examining violence against women, WO will examine violence against men which seems to be on the increase. 

It has been shown that men in Nigeria experience domestic violence perpetrated by women.  

The founder of Purple Lifeline Connection, Halima Odiegwu, disclosed that over 25 per cent of men in Nigeria experience abuse in their intimate relationships. 

According to her, men experience sexual and emotional abuse resulting to drunkenness. Many witnessed or experienced violence as children, wife abuse, extra-marital relationships, and economic demands. 

Men are abused in a variety of places, including their matrimonial homes, prisons, boarding schools, the Almajiri system, and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps, offices among others. 

Odiegwu revealed that men may cope with trauma through aggressiveness, fear, anger, anxiety, disturbance of eating or sleeping patterns, or divorce. 

In Nigeria, men are expected to be physically stronger than women and hold the power in their homes. It is culturally regarded as shameful for a woman to beat a man. Some say that specific legislation is needed to address violence against men in Nigeria. 

In its research, the Lagos State Government through its Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, DSVA, revealed that 1,108 men have reported being domestically abused in six years.

Revealing the statistics, the DSVA Executive Secretary, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, said it is important for men to speak up, as they also experience different kinds of violence.

Reacting, the Executive Director, Sustainable Gender Action Initiative, Dr Mufuliat Fijabi said the 16 Days of Activism is a global campaign to stop all forms of gender- based violence.

“Violence against persons is a crime against humanity and should be prevented at all cost. Perpetrators of all forms of violence especially gender-based violence should be prosecuted.

“The violence against persons prohibitions act as enacted in 2015 and as adopted by all the states of Nigeria should be brought to punish perpetrators.

In his approach, Dr. Mustapha ‘Toyin Sanbe, Ph.D, University Counsellor, Summit University, Offa, North-Central Nigeria, disclosed  “Men have always been suffering and smiling,” according to late Afrobeat Musician, Fela Anikulapo. Cases of violence against men have been greatly underreported. The capacity to report is a recent thing. The Lagos State Division, Police Headquarters, Oduduwa, Ikeja is a place to report cases of violence.  

“For a long time to come, men’s cases of domestic violence will remain underreported because man is phychologically wired differently from woman. Woman seeks for solutions better than man, the main reason for higher suicide completion in men.

For Monica Oguta, Head of Aviation Security at the Murtala Mohammed Airport Terminal 2 (MMA2), gender-based violence is a pervasive issue that transcends sectors and industries, and the workplace is not exempted. 

“Within professional environments, GBV often manifests subtly through harassment, discrimination, unequal pay, or exclusionary practices. In Aviation, which is traditionally male-dominated, these challenges can be particularly pronounced for women.

“Addressing GBV at the workplace requires a collective and structured approach. 

“The Aviation industry, including my terminal, has made strides in promoting gender equality and inclusion. However, there is more work to be done. Platforms like the 16 Days of Activism remind us of our shared responsibility to build workplaces where everyone feels safe, valued, and respected.”

Mrs. Aderonke Oyelakin, Coordinator of the Child Protection Network Lagos and the Bimbo Odukoya Foundation, emphasized the vital role of the media in educating men about the importance of seeking help and speaking out against violence. She highlighted that the media can help dismantle myths and misconceptions surrounding male experiences with gender-based violence (GBV) and the societal expectations regarding men’s emotional expression. By promoting positive masculinity, the media can contribute to a greater understanding of how men can protect themselves against violence.

While there are existing policies that address both genders, Oyelakin stressed the need for increased awareness of these laws and the support available for men who report such incidents. Public enlightenment initiatives are essential to encourage more men to come forward. She also pointed out that effective enforcement and implementation of these policies are crucial.

Vanguard News