NIGERIA'S LEGAL RESPONSE TO GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE: ALIGNING NATIONAL LAWS WITH INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS

Abstract

Gender-Based Violence is a pervasive issue affecting individuals across the world, and it is rooted in unequal power dynamics, cultural norms, and systematic discrimination. Gender-Based Violence encompasses a range of harmful behaviours, including domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and harmful practices. This study seeks to critically analyze the Nigerian Legal System's response to Gender-Based Violence, focusing on the effectiveness of current legal frameworks, the challenges faced and their implementation, and the broader socio-cultural factors that hinder justice for victims. The legal system's response to Gender-Based Violence is not just a matter of laws on paper but extends to the practical realities of how these laws are enforced, the resources available to survivors and the societal attitude that influence legal outcomes. A comprehensive evaluation of these issues is essential to understanding why Gender-Based Violence continues to thrive despite legal protections and what can be one to improve the system response.