In continuation of its sensitization program on COVID-19 in Nigeria, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), held its 23rd edition of Twitter chat in the 25th of June, 2020.

 

The guest was Amina Mubarak Ahmad, State Lead, Bridge Connect Africa Initiative

 

She discussed on the topic “Impact of COVID 19 on domestic violence and the preventive measures”

 

She started by clearly saying the outbreak of COVID 19 has affected every-day life whereby the victims of domestic violence spend most considerable days with their abusers which has increased the likelihood of victims abused daily and most frequently.

 

She explained the contributors of domestic violence under the lockdown which are the restrictions of movement which gave birth rise to the frequent abuse and has stop the victims from seeking for help from relevant authorities.

 

In response to the questions addressed to her, she stated the global pandemic has affected the implementation process of ending Gender Base Violence and the need to review strategies in the implementation process. The Fight against Gender Based Violence should not be left in the hands of the Government and the CSOs because they can’t do it alone, people at the grassroots should play a vital role through community awareness campaigns and sensitization, supporting the victims of the Violence and also provide safe and enabling environment for gender based violence survivors without shaming and stigmatization. Social services will greatly have impact on the victims of domestic violence, through providing psychological and emotional support for the victims and also provide them with safe space where their voices will be heard.

 

In conclusion, she gave some recommendations, stating the need for community engagement in Gender Based Violence prevention and response and working closely with the community leaders, religious leaders and community members on ways to prevent the violence.

Engagement:

 

1. Amina Mubarak Ahmad (@aminamahmad), how has domestic violence been affected by #COVID19 pandemic? The outbreak of Covid_19 has affected I can say every sector of our today’s life, it affects domestic violence in such a manner that the victims now spent most considerable times with their abusers to some affected by total lockdown have to stay 24/7 with the abusers As such increases the likelihood of the victims being abuse daily and most frequently and forced to stay with their abusers
2. Welcome @aminamahmad, aside the effort made largely by the gov’t and CSOs in minimizing GBV. Do you think people at grass root have role to play and what could be that role? Fight against GBV is not for only the govt and the CSOs because they can’t do it alone, people at the grassroots can also play a vital role through community awareness campaigns and sensitization, supporting the victims of GBV, supporting the govt and CSOs intervention on GBV And also by providing safe and enabling environment for GBV survivors without shaming and stigmatization
3. Ma’am, What do you think are the contributors of the increased of Domestic Violence this period? The major contributor is the movement restrictions as the result of the pandemic, which forces the victims and the abusers to stay together and increases the chances of frequent abuse.
4. In recent times we have seen rise in domestic violence related cases, has #COVID19 pandemic played any role in the rise and how rampant the incidences become? It really plays a role, aside from the how the movement restrictions contribute to the increase in domestic violence, also lack of access to seek for help from the relevant authorities contribute to the increase of cases we are seeing today
5. reports from every region in Nig indicated that there are increased in Domestic Violence, how do you think this menace can be tackled & ensure justice to the victims? Yes when the necessary intervention measures are put in place which should be easily accessible, where the victims can reach out to and seek for justice despite the movement restrictions.
6. How is the pandemic likely to affect long-term progress toward ending domestic violence? What is the way out? This global pandemic affects almost I can everything, it affects also the implementation processes of already ongoing projects in bringing an end to GBV. The way out is by reviewing the strategies that will fit in with the situation wr have at hand today… Because we can’t say because of the pandemic and the way it affects may be the implementation of the strategy we have at hand we cannot do anything again.
7. do you think the Covid19 pandemic has taken us back in the fight against GBV in Nig. looking at how the numbers r increasing everyday? Yes it does, because now most of  these victims are now spending most of their times with the abusers, and most of the implementation processes for fighting GBV now are being affected by d ongoing pandemic. Because of the movement restrictions victims lack proper access 2 justice
8. Domestic violence was a global pandemic long before the COVID-19 outbreak. But pls, how have COVID-19 influenced rates of domestic violence?
9. Parents, government and people have roles to Respect, Protect and Report on GBV…How can all stakeholders play their role to prune the spread of GBV? Through community engagement in GBV prevention and response. By working closely with the community leaders, religious leaders and community members on how to prevent GBV.
10. what has been the impact on social services for domestic violence victims? Social services greatly impact the victims of domestic violence positively, through providing psychological and emotional support for the victims and also provide them with safe space where they can talk and be heard with out judgment nor justification
11. What can an individual, group or Govt do to protect those at risk of domestic violence amid the pandemic? Providing support and assistance for those at risk of domestic violence on how to protect themselves, when and how to seek for help/assistance.
12. Thank you so much @aminamahmad for being with us at this hour, the engagement is really educative and enlightening. We hope to have you some other time. Thank you so much it is my honor