In northern Nigeria, the word is freed a little on sexual violence

Audio 02:19

The fear of gossip and stigma, the fear that the victims will no longer be able to marry, are all reasons to keep quiet.

But things are gradually changing.

(Illustrative image) © Getty Images / Spencer Platt

By: Liza Fabbian

6 mins

In the very conservative and religious society of northern Nigeria, words are gradually emerging on sexual violence.

The fear of stigma remains extremely strong and pushes many victims to shut up, but society is starting to change.

Publicity

From our special correspondent in Kano,

It was during his civic service with the Ministry of Justice of Kano State that Sadiya Adama Aliyu became aware of the problem.

“ 

At the ministry, we received complaints every day.

When I met my husband, who is a doctor, he told me that he saw sexually abused patients almost every day in his clinic.

That's how it started,

 ”she says.

The young woman has since founded her own association: the Initiative for Support to Victims of Sexual Violence, which brings together health personnel, five lawyers and teachers.

The goal: to speed up proceedings and take cases of sexual assault to court.

“ 

Yes, there are convictions, but it's a long process.

That's why I wanted to found this association: to save time.

 », Underlines Saadiya Adama Aliyu.

"Society is changing"

Nearly 40 cases are currently followed by the association. That day, Sadiya welcomes two little victims and their young father to her home - he tells their story. “ 

The assailant is an electrician. He had been called in to fix a light bulb. He asked for light to work and the mother sent her daughter with a cell phone to light him. He took the opportunity to take the girl to the bathroom in this room and he attacked her,

 ”he says.

The fear of gossip and stigma, the fear that the victims will no longer be able to marry, are all reasons to keep quiet.

But things are gradually changing according to this young head of the family.

“ 

Before, if something like that happened, people preferred to keep quiet, because they would say '

he's a friend;

a neighbor, a friend of the family

”.

Now people talk more easily.

Society is changing,

 ”he notes.

An application to help victims and relatives in their efforts

Except that victims and their loved ones often have trouble knowing where to turn for help.

It is on this basis that Saadat Aliyu, a 27-year-old developer,

 created Helpio

, an application to help victims file a complaint.

“ 

If you log in, you will see an information page.

Then there is a part where you can report an assault.

Say where it took place.

Here in Kano we work with two organizations.

You give the victim's name, your own identity, and the case is monitored by one of the organizations - and we can follow the progress of the case,

 ”explains the developer.

50 reports have been recorded since the launch of the Helpio application in April.

But a new improved version will be uploaded soon and available in several local languages.

Newsletter

Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • Nigeria