Does Feminist Movement-Building Reduce Violence Against Women? Case Study: Nigeria

In Nigeria, elections over the years have been characterised by violence, including violence against women. In addition, research indicates that violence or fear of violence is a major deterrent to women’s active participation and engagement in politics. These are some of the reasons that women’s groups including WILPF Nigeria have organised themselves to participate in peace building initiatives and processes, including initiatives aimed at strengthening women’s participation in political processes.

One such example is the 2015 Women’s Situation Room (WSR) which aimed to create an early warning and early response mechanism for electoral violence surrounding the March 28 2015 general elections. The WSR successfully responded to a number of incidents of election-related violence, making it a strong example of the feminist movement’s power to assist in countering Violence Against Women.

This case study, produced as part of the Women, Peace and Security Financing toolkit, demonstrates the link between feminist movement-building and reducing violence against women.