Empowering Her - Ending Violence and Exploitation of Women and Girls in Africa

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) remains one of the most pervasive human rights violations across Africa. From domestic violence to harmful traditional practices, sexual exploitation to economic marginalisation, the challenges are complex and deeply rooted in historical, cultural, and socio-economic factors and religion. However, there has been the grassroots movements, policy reforms, and international partnerships that are creating pathways to change across the continent. This blog examines the current landscape of violence and exploitation facing women and girls in Africa, with a specific focus on Nigeria and North Africa, highlighting both challenges and promising interventions.

Violence against women and girls in Africa manifests in multiple forms from, Physical and sexual violence, intimate partner violence, rape, and assault, harmful traditional practices like female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), child marriage, and widow inheritance. Economic exploitation including labour trafficking, domestic servitude, and denial of property rights to psychological abuse like coercive control and emotional manipulation.

According to the World Health Organisation approximately 37% of women in Africa have experienced physical or sexual intimate partner violence in their lifetime. The UN Women's studies indicate that in some countries, these rates rise to over 50%. These statistics represent only reported cases with many incidents going unreported due to stigma, fear of reprisal, and limited access to justice systems.

NIGERIA

Nigeria, which is Africa’s most populous nation presents a complex landscape for women's rights. Despite economic growth and democratisation, Nigerian women continue to face significant challenges. According to Nigeria's Demographic and Health Survey, approximately 30% of women aged 15-49 have experienced physical violence since age 15, and 9% experienced sexual violence. In conflict-affected northeastern regions, these numbers are significantly higher.

Boko Haram and Gender-Based Violence 

Since 2009, the insurgency by Boko Haram has devastated communities in northeastern Nigeria. The group has systematically targeted women and girls with the 2014 kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok drawing international attention. Beyond high-profile kidnappings, thousands of women and girls have experienced sexual violence, forced marriage, and exploitation at the hands of both insurgents and in some cases security forces.

Human Trafficking

Nigeria remains a source transit and destination country for human trafficking. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) reports that women and girls make up approximately 80% of trafficking victims from Nigeria primarily for sexual exploitation in Europe and forced labour within West Africa.

Harmful Traditional Practices

Child marriage rates remain high particularly in northern Nigeria where 48% of girls are married before 18. While the national prevalence of FGM/C has declined to about 20% it remains nearly universal in some communities.

Despite these challenges, Nigeria has seen significant progress through various initiatives like, Nigeria's Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act of 2015 represents a comprehensive framework addressing multiple forms of gender-based violence. As of 2023, 34 of Nigeria's 36 states have domesticated this legislation, though implementation remains uneven, Organizations like the Women's Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) have established networks of support services, including shelters, legal aid, and psychosocial counselling for survivors of gender-based violence. The Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) model has expanded to multiple states, providing integrated medical, legal, and counselling services. The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund's Women Entrepreneurs Program exemplifies initiatives providing women with access to credit, skills training, and mentorship, recognizing economic independence as crucial to reducing vulnerability to exploitation. The #ArewaMeToo movement in northern Nigeria and nationwide #EndRape campaigns have broken the silence around sexual violence, challenging cultural norms and demanding accountability. These movements are increasingly led by young feminist activists using social media to mobilize support and document abuses and partnerships between the European Union and the United Nations focused on eliminating violence against women and girls has invested 25 million in Nigeria, working across six states to strengthen institutions, shift social norms, and improve services for survivors.

NORTH AFRICA

North African countries share some common challenges regarding women's rights, though with significant variation reflecting their diverse political and social landscapes. Until recently, many North African countries maintained legal provisions that discriminated against women, including laws allowing rapists to escape prosecution by marrying their victims, reduced penalties for "honour crimes," and unequal inheritance rights.

In Egypt, a 2015 survey found that 46% of even-married women have experienced some form of spousal violence. In Morocco, a national survey revealed that 57% of women had experienced some form of violence in the previous year, with psychological violence being most common.

Despite high educational attainment among women in North Africa, female labour force participation remains among the lowest globally. In Egypt, only about 18% of women participate in the formal labour market, compared to 67% of men. Public sexual harassment is pervasive across North African countries. In Egypt, a UN Women study found that 99.3% of women reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment in public spaces. The Arab Spring movements of 2011 created both opportunities and new risks for women's rights. While women were at the forefront of democratic movements, subsequent political instability has sometimes led to regression in rights protections.

North African countries have seen significant progress through various approaches. Morocco’s 2018 Law 103-13 criminalises various forms of violence against women, including cyber harassment and forced marriage. Tunisia's landmark 2017 legislation on eliminating violence against women is considered one of the most comprehensive in the region, addressing economic discrimination alongside physical and sexual violence. Tunisia’s constitution guarantees gender parity in elected assemblies, and women now constitute 26% of parliamentarians. In Morocco, reforms to the electoral code have increased women's representation to 24% in parliament. Campaigns like ‘Harass Map’ in Egypt use technology to document and combat sexual harassment, allowing women to report incidents anonymously while creating visual representations of harassment hotspots to guide prevention efforts. In Morocco, the argan oil industry has created economic opportunities for rural women through cooperatives that now employ thousands of women, providing sustainable livelihoods and increasing women's decision-making power within households and communities. Networks like the Coalition of Women Human Rights Defenders in North Africa facilitate cross-border collaboration, sharing strategies and providing mutual support to activists working on gender-based violence.

Comprehensive Legal and Policy Reform must be put in place to address all forms of violence and exploitation and encourage participation for all. Sustainable change requires addressing the root causes of violence, including, engaging men and boys as allies through programs like Promundo's work in multiple African countries. Working with religious and traditional leaders to reinterpret cultural practices in ways that respect women's rights. Using media, including radio dramas and social media campaigns, to challenge harmful stereotypes. Strengthening Prevention and Response Systems, building Women's Economic Power and economic empowerment strategies to tailored to women's needs.

Ending violence and exploitation of women and girls in Africa requires sustained commitment across multiple sectors. The case studies of Nigeria and North Africa demonstrate both the persistence of deeply rooted challenges and the potential for transformative change when women's rights are prioritised. Progress is most evident where multiple strategies converge strong legal frameworks, shifting social norms, support services for survivors, women's economic empowerment, and women's leadership in decision-making. Crucially, the most successful interventions are those that recognise women and girls not merely as victims to be protected but as agents of change in their communities. The path forward must centre African women's voices and leadership, building on indigenous knowledge while leveraging new technologies and global partnerships. By addressing both immediate protection needs and long-term structural inequalities, Africa can accelerate progress toward a future where all women and girls live free from violence and exploitation.

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