Vivian Saleh Kpakol Series 2 – Dignity in the Shadows: Public Policy Solutions for Gender-Based Abuse in Nigeria
Introduction
Dignity is the essence of human life — it embodies the right of every individual to live free from fear, oppression, and degradation. In Nigeria, however, the dignity of countless women is daily eroded by abusive marriages and relationships. Domestic violence—whether physical, sexual, psychological, or economic—has become a silent epidemic, one that is often concealed by cultural expectations, religious pressure, and fear of stigma. According to a 2018 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), nearly 30% of Nigerian women aged 15–49 have experienced physical violence since age 15, and many more endure psychological or economic abuse that goes unreported.
