GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND THE CHALLENGE OF POLICY AWARENESS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Gender based violence has been on the increase in Nigeria with women suffering the most violence on the basis of their gender. This record negates the existence of multiple policies and legal frameworks that prohibit the act of gender-based violence in the country. This paper investigates the challenge of policy communication and its impact on gender-based violence in Nigeria. Social marketing theory is adopted as a heuristic device which explains the importance and steps to create awareness about government’s policies and agenda to the targeted audience or general public. Literatures were reviewed thematically, and data werecollected via secondary method while documentary content study was deployed for analysis. The study reveals that nonchalant disposition of government overtime on gender-based violence has led to poor policy communication and awareness. It concludes that poor communication and awareness of policies and legal framework has contributed to the increase of gender based violence in Nigeria, and recommended amongst others an aggressive awareness programme on policies and legal frameworks prohibiting gender-based violence, and a complimentary role by relevant civil society organizations.