The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has identified a concerning trend—men are increasingly becoming victims of sexual and gender-based violence. This revelation comes from NAPTIP’s Director General, Fatima Waziri-Aza, during a workshop held in Abuja with support from the FORD Foundation.
Waziri-Aza highlighted specific cases involving physical violence, the separation of children from their fathers, and men being chased out of shared homes.
Despite traditionally fewer reports from men in such situations, Waziri-Aza reassured male victims that laws are in place to protect them. She disclosed that in 2023 alone, 15 complaints have been registered concerning such cases involving men.
In her statement, Waziri-Aza acknowledged the evolving landscape, stating, “Even though we know that most of these SGBV issues affect women more, the fact that men are reporting and speaking up shows us that attitudes that used to be seen as normal are no longer tolerated.”
The workshop served as a platform for stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and understand their roles in combating SGBV issues.
Waziri-Aza discussed strategies and emphasized the importance of advocacy efforts to prevent and address gender-based violence.
NAPTIP’s Director General provided insight into the agency’s efforts, stating, “For us at NAPTIP, last year alone, we received about 2,400 cases of SGBV in the Federal Capital Territory.”
She noted a decrease in the culture of silence, citing the increase in reported cases as evidence of progress in addressing these sensitive issues.
