In recent times domestic violence has crawled it’s way into the heart of the Nigerian culture leaving trails of hate, injury, separation and deaths. Acts of domestic violence in Nigeria ranges from rape to battery,torture to extreme cases of acid baths which has cut short the life of many in the society. It is estimated that approximately one in every three women suffers domestic violence and one in every 15 men had experienced domestic violence.
According to the United States Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women, Domestic abuse, also called “domestic violence” or “intimate partner violence”, can be defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. Abuse is physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure, or wound someone.
Despite the ravages of domestic violence in Nigeria, there is no uniform Legislation that directly addresses domestic violence and that punishes this inhumane behaviour. Although, they are scattered around individual Legislation of several states to put a check on acts of domestic violence. The closest of this Legislations to general acceptance is the VIOLENCE AGAINST PERSONS ACT 2015 which is applicable only in Abuja though some states has passed same as the State Legislation on Domestic violence.
The Law covers domestic violence ranging from depriving a person of his or her liberty, damage to property with intention to cause distress, forced financial economic abuse, forced isolation or separation from family and friend, verbal and psychological abuse, abandonment of spouse, children, and other dependents without sustenance, stalking and attack with harmful substance.
Section 19(1) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act 2015 provides thus:
A person who batters his or her spouse commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or to a fine not exceeding N200, 000 or both.”
Other relevant laws on the issue includes:
- Protection against Domestic violence Law (PADVL) 2007: the law is only applicable in Lagos State.
- The Cross River Domestic Violence and Maltreatment of Widows’ Prohibition Law, 2014
- The Ebonyi State Protection Against Domestic Violence Law, 2007
- Ekiti State Gender Base Violence Law 2019.
It is pertinent to note that despite the existence of these laws domestic violence seems to be on the increase. The Legislations often times only exists in the books as cases of domestic violence are most often handled as a family matter. This has made the existent laws mute and ineffective. I therefore call on every well-meaning Nigerian to help give a voice to any victim of domestic violence by educating them about the relevant laws protecting them from such violation.
By Lucky Obahor.
