Help Nigeria / Services in Nigeria / Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

What is Gender-Based Violence?

Gender-based violence (GBV) can include sexual, physical, mental, and economic harm inflicted in public or in private. It also includes threats of violence, coercion, and manipulation. This can take many forms, such as intimate partner violence, sexual violence, child marriage, female genital mutilation and so-called ‘honour crimes’.

These acts can occur in public or in private.

Who can help me if I am facing violence?

In Nigeria, State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development (MoWA) support and offer Gender-Based Violence prevention and mitigation campaigns.

If you or someone you know is experiencing violence, the NCFRMI, GISCOR and Caritas and the Nigeria Bar Association may be able to help. You can also contact the police in your respective area. You can access the following services once you report abuse:

  • Psychosocial counselling,
  • Safe spaces for survivors at risk of further harm from perpetrators,
  • Referral to health services
  • Access to justice

If you are in refugee field locations,

If you are in Ogoja:

You can report GBV cases can be reported to the following or any agency working with forcibly displaced and stateless persons that you trust:

  • Any Primary Health Care Centres, General Hospitals at the various LGAs
  • Any of the Police posts.
  • The Ministry of Social Welfare, through the Women Development Officers and Social Welfare Officers who act as GBV focal points, can also receive reports.
  • The GBV/ protection Monitors working with UNHCR partners. These monitors are easily accessible.  They, too, can receive GBV cases and will (confidentially) refer them to a health care center and/or the Police.
  • You can also report incidences to the Refugee Led Organization GEESI Development and Humanitarian Initiative (formerly known as Great Step Initiative)
  • UNHCR also has an office in Ogoja, Calabar and Makurdi where cases can be reported to the GBV focal point, and s/he will refer them to HIC and/or the Police.

If you are in Cross River State:

Please approach the nearest location where you can receive appropriate services, depending on the nature of the incident. If you are within Ogoja/Calabar LGA, you can approach:

  • Caritas Nigeria Office- No.4 Basin Road, Abakpa, Ogoja or any of their field offices in Adagom 1, 3 or Ukende and if in Calabar, Caritas Nigeria Office – 26 Spring Road, Calabar
  • GEESI Development and Humanitarian Initiative (formerly Great Step Initiative) Office- CBI Hall, Adagom 1, CBI Tent in Ukende
  • If you are in Benue State, please approach the nearest location where you can receive appropriate services, depending on the nature of the incidence. If you are within Adikpo LGA, you can approach:
  • Caritas Nigeria Office – Beside Diba Hotels by Y-junction, Adikpo or the Caritas Nigeria Field Office at Ikyogen Settlement next to the SEMA office.
  • If you are in Akwa Ibom State, please approach the nearest location where you can receive appropriate services, depending on the nature of the incidence. If you are within Uyo LGA, you can approach:
  • Caritas Nigeria Office – Behind Customs Office, Oron Road, Uyo
  • If you are in Taraba State, please approach the nearest location where you can receive appropriate services, depending on the nature of the incidence. If you are within Takum LGA, you can approach:
  • Caritas Nigeria Office – Danjuma Road, by Police Roundabout, Takum

If you have experienced Gender-Based Violence, these are the services that can support you: GBV response services include medical treatment (ideally within 72 hours of the incident), psychosocial support, physical security, safe shelter, and legal assistance.

Other social services extended to GBV survivors include community-based peer support, mentorship programmes, provision of dignity and menstrual hygiene management kits, and livelihoods support to mitigate against further violence. All service providers working with GBV survivors are bound by a strict code of confidentiality and apply survivor centered approaches.

If you are in Maiduguri:

GBV cases can be reported to the following. Please approach the nearest location where you can receive service or be referred to appropriate services, depending on the nature and situation.

  • The Health Information Centre (HIC)
  • Any of the Police posts nearest to you – 
  • The Ministry of Social Welfare GBV focal point can also receive reports.
  • The GBV/ protection Monitors. These monitors are easily accessible.  They, too, can receive GBV cases and will (confidentially) refer them to HIC and/or the Police.
  • UNHCR also has an office in Maiduguri, Damaturu, and Yola, where cases can be reported to the GBV focal point, and s/he will refer them to HIC and/or the Police.