By Joseph Erunke

A civil society organisation, Citizens’ Gavel, has launched a nationwide digital campaign aimed at preventing Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in Nigeria through early detection and behavioural correction.

The initiative, unveiled on Friday, seeks to shift the response to domestic violence from crisis intervention to proactive prevention by helping individuals and couples identify unhealthy relationship patterns before they escalate into abuse.

Central to the campaign is IRIS (Intimate Relationship Indicators Screening), a digital behavioural assessment tool designed to be customised and integrated into premarital counselling programmes of interested churches across the country. The tool can also be used by married couples and individuals seeking greater self-awareness and emotional readiness for long-term relationships.

Citizens’ Gavel said the campaign was informed by years of engagement with survivors of domestic violence, which revealed that many victims remain trapped in abusive relationships due to emotional dependence, financial constraints, cultural pressures, or fear of social stigma. In many cases, the organisation noted, intervention occurs only after severe emotional, psychological, or physical harm has been done.

According to the organisation, the new strategy aims to reverse this trend by empowering individuals and couples to recognise and address harmful behaviours early. Through IRIS, users will be guided to work intentionally on identified issues using carefully designed behavioural corrective modules, with the goal of promoting healthier relationship outcomes.

The organisation stressed that IRIS is not a fault-finding or labelling mechanism, but a growth-focused diagnostic tool built on the premise that healthy relationships require self-awareness, accountability, and intentional effort from partners.

IRIS is being developed in collaboration with marriage counsellors as well as certified behavioural and clinical psychologists. It employs subtle, research-backed questions to assess key areas such as emotional regulation, communication styles, conflict management, and other relationship dynamics known to trigger conflict.

A key feature of the tool is its solution-driven approach. For every behavioural concern identified, users receive tailored, scripture-based learning modules developed with input from experienced faith leaders and counsellors. These modules provide clear, values-driven guidance rooted in biblical principles, aimed at fostering personal growth and behavioural change.

As a technology-driven organisation, Citizens’ Gavel said IRIS will be fully digital, ensuring accessibility, discretion, and ease of use for participating churches and individuals. The platform can be adapted for premarital counselling, marriage enrichment programmes, or personal self-assessment.

Ultimately, the organisation said IRIS is designed to help reduce incidents of Intimate Partner Violence by equipping individuals and couples with emotional maturity, self-awareness, and practical tools to build stable, respectful, and loving homes.

Speaking on the launch, the organisation reaffirmed its commitment to building safer families and communities through proactive, technology-enabled approaches to justice, wellbeing, and healthy family life.

The statement announcing the initiative was signed by the Programs Lead of Citizens’ Gavel, Oluwatosin Ariyo.

Citizens’ Gavel is a civic organisation committed to promoting the rule of law and democratic principles by accelerating access to justice, strengthening accountability, and deploying digital technology and advocacy to improve justice delivery in Nigeria.