Rhoda Serene Care Foundation and Arise for Girls Initiative have called on the Nigerian government to take urgent and coordinated action to address the rising cases of gender-based violence (GBV) across Nigeria.
The demand comes as the world marks the 2025 Global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
In a joint statement, the organisations said women and girls in Nigeria continue to face escalating threats of sexual violence, femicide, domestic abuse and harmful cultural practices.
They also raised concerns about the growing wave of digital violence, including image-based abuse, cyberstalking, online harassment, and gendered misinformation, which they described as a national emergency requiring decisive government intervention.
“These forms of violence are destroying lives, silencing women’s voices, and deepening fear and trauma in families and communities.
This is not an issue for civil society alone. It is a national emergency that demands the full weight, coordination, and political will of the Nigerian government,” the groups said.
The groups urged the Federal Government to “strengthen and enforce GBV laws nationwide, particularly the implementation of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act across all states.”
They also called for survivor-centred and trauma-informed procedures within law enforcement agencies, alongside firm accountability measures for officers who mishandle GBV cases.
On digital safety, the statement recommended establishing a national framework for reporting and prosecuting digital abuse, compelling social media platforms operating in Nigeria to protect women from gendered attacks, and expanding digital safety education in schools and communities.
The organisations further demanded improved access to justice for survivors, including better police responsiveness, legal support, shelters, and mental health services. They noted that impunity for perpetrators, regardless of status, must end to restore public trust.
Citing the decline in mental health funding, they appealed for increased national investment in trauma care and psychosocial support, especially for vulnerable groups in schools, underserved communities, and internally displaced persons’ camps.
“For too long, shame, silence, and impunity have protected perpetrators and punished survivors. Women and girls across Nigeria deserve to live, learn, work, speak, and thrive without violence,” the statement read, adding that the Presidency has the responsibility to lead a coordinated national response.
Rhoda Serene Care Foundation and Arise for Girls Initiative reaffirmed their commitment to prevention, advocacy, digital safety, and survivor support but stressed that sustainable change requires strong government leadership and systemic reform.
“As this year’s 16 Days of Activism concludes, we urge the Presidency to choose courage over silence, justice over impunity, and protection over neglect. The lives of our women and girls depend on it,” the groups stated.