Theatre and Domestic Violence in Nigeria

Despite the numerous international human right instruments, especially The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol), that seek to combat all forms of gender discrimination and harmful cultural practices against women, gender based violence are still prevalent in Africa and they tend to undermine the prospect of women’s rights, identity and empowerment. Domestic violence in Nigeria is soaring steadily at an alarming rate. On a daily basis, Nigerian women are beaten, disfigured, raped, murdered in their homes or cajoled into human trafficking networks where they meet dreadful conditions or death. Often the perpetrators are familiar individuals; fathers, husbands, dating partners, or trusted family members or acquaintances. There are numerous factors favoring the prevalence and escalation of domestic violence in the country, ranging from superstitious belief, myth, ignorance, preoccupation with chastity, economic deprivation, social security and fear of societal ostracism to abject coercion. These factors make Nigerian women vulnerable and hold rigidly to the practice of barbaric cultural traditions even when they are inimical to their well-being. More distressing is that even though there are laws protecting women against this pandemic, access to the justice system is often denied to victims. Hope Rising Foundation advocates against the soaring rate of domestic violence in Nigeria and canvasses for a system that has value for justice, equity and respect for human dignity. The Foundation utilizes literature, theatre performance and grass root women’s groups to provide awareness and offer an empowerment platform to victims and those most susceptible to domestic violence. This workshop would show methods of engagement, challenges and success.