Gender Based Violence (GBV) affects people of all genders, yet women and girls remain disproportionately targeted. It includes physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse or threats of such abuse driven by unequal power relations. Worldwide estimates highlight pervasive experiences of Intimate Partner Violence and other forms of abuse, yet only a small fraction of survivors make formal reports. These patterns reflect deep social norms that normalise male dominance and silence survivors’ voices.
Findings show that the scale of GBV remains far more entrenched than many assume. As of 2024, more than 230 million girls and women worldwide were estimated to have undergone Female Genital Mutilation, with roughly 63 percent of all documented cases occurring in Africa, particularly in Somalia, Djibouti, Sudan and Eritrea. Intimate partner violence also remains widespread, with about 27 percent of women aged 15 to 49 who have ever been in a relationship reporting physical or sexual abuse at some point in their lives. The broader pattern of fatal violence is equally stark. In 2022, Africa recorded the highest number of reported femicides out of the 89,000 women intentionally killed globally, and in 2023 the world saw an average of one woman killed every ten minutes. These figures underscore not only the human cost, but the economic burden as well, with GBV draining an estimated 1.5 trillion dollars from the global economy each year.
The global 16 Days of Activism against GBV closed out on the 10th of this month, and brought renewed attention to the scale of the problem, particularly highlighting digital and technology-facilitated violence. However, despite rising visibility and advocacy, reporting rates remain low across global, regional, and local contexts. Understanding the reasons behind this gap is essential for shaping stronger protection systems and more effective prevention efforts.
Stigma remains one of the strongest deterrents to reporting. Survivors often fear being judged, blamed, or ostracised by family and community members. In many contexts, discussing violence becomes synonymous with “bringing shame” on the family. This social pressure can be especially damaging for girls and young women: in some societies, once a girl is perceived as “damaged,” her chances of marriage can be severely reduced, regardless of the circumstances of the abuse, sadly often leading to marriages with the attacker themselves.
Victim-blaming questions such as “Why did you go to his house?” or “Why were you dressed like that?” shift responsibility from perpetrators to survivors and reinforce silence. In extreme cases across different cultures, honour-related violence including honour killings are also carried out.
The lack of trust in institutions further contributes to low reporting. Research on reporting behaviour points to fear of re-exposure to the offender, mistrust of law enforcement, and concern about institutional response as key reasons victims refrain from approaching authorities. Survivors frequently feel unsupported and unheard, which discourages reporting and further perpetuates silence.
Economic dependence is another significant barrier. Many survivors rely financially on abusive partners or family members. The fear of losing livelihood, housing, or access to children can outweigh the perceived benefits of reporting. This dynamic persists especially where survivor support services and economic alternatives are limited.
Cultural and religious expectations/pressures also compound these issues. In some communities, elders or leaders encourage survivors to reconcile with perpetrators to maintain family unity or avoid public scandal. Religious or traditional interpretations sometimes prioritise social cohesion over accountability. These norms discourage formal reporting and reinforce the idea that violence is a private matter rather than a public violation of rights.
Fear of retaliation also impedes reporting. Survivors may worry about further abuse, property damage, or harm to their families if they speak up. Protection mechanisms such as restraining orders and shelters are unevenly available, making many survivors feel unsafe disclosing abuse. Awareness of reporting pathways is also often limited, leaving survivors unsure of where to turn for support.
At the global level, frameworks such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women shape norms and expectations for State action. These instruments offer important guidance, yet implementation varies widely across countries.
In Africa, the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU-CEVAWG) was adopted by Heads of State in February 2025 as a continent-wide legal instrument to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls. The convention addresses root causes of violence, strengthens legal and institutional mechanisms, and promotes human rights and gender equality, and now awaits ratification by member states to enter into force.
In Nigeria, legal instruments such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act provide a statutory basis for criminalising many forms of GBV. However, domestication and consistent enforcement of these laws vary across states, limiting their practical impact. Many states still lack essential infrastructure such as functional shelters, referral centres, and coordinated response mechanisms for survivors.
Government and civil society efforts during the 16 Days of Activism emphasised the need to improve funding, data systems, survivor services, and community education to challenge harmful norms.
Improving reporting requires reforms at multiple levels. Justice systems need to adopt survivor-centred approaches and reduce delays that discourage complainants. Social services must be expanded and adequately funded. Community education must tackle stigma and promote supportive responses. Regional and national frameworks must be translated into actionable policies with accountability measures to ensure that survivors feel safe when coming forward.
GBV thrives in silence. Reducing barriers to reporting is not just about statistics but about ensuring access to justice, safety, and long-term healing. As systems become more responsive and trusted, survivors will be more likely to speak up, enabling societies to address the full scope of violence and work toward sustainable prevention.
Sources for further reading:
African Union adopts Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls. | African Union
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0145213424000115?utm_
