The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and the Global Fund have expressed deep concern over the continued prevalence of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in Nigeria, warning that the persistent crisis is undermining public health outcomes, weakening access to healthcare services, and threatening progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS and other diseases.
The concerns were highlighted on Thursday during the National Consultative Workshop on Gender Equality, Gender-Based Violence and Intimate Partner Violence Programming in Nigeria, held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
The workshop was organised under the Joint United Nations Team on HIV/AIDS with support from the Global Fund and brought together a broad range of stakeholders, including government officials, development partners, civil society organisations, healthcare professionals, human rights advocates, women’s groups, youth representatives, and policymakers. The gathering focused on developing practical strategies for integrating GBV and IPV interventions into Nigeria’s Global Fund Grant Cycle 8 (GC8) funding request.
Participants stressed that violence against women and vulnerable populations remains one of the major barriers to achieving improved health outcomes and sustainable development in Nigeria.
Speaking during the event, the Gender Lead at UNDP, Onyinye Belinda Ndubuisi, described gender-based violence as a critical challenge that continues to prevent many women and girls from accessing essential HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care services.
According to her, the consultative workshop was designed to provide a platform for key stakeholders from different sectors to collectively identify gaps, strengthen collaboration and develop effective responses to the growing challenge.
She noted that representatives from the Federal Ministries of Health, Justice and Women Affairs, the National Human Rights Commission, development agencies and civil society groups were brought together to ensure a coordinated and comprehensive approach to addressing violence against women and girls.
“This workshop is more than a routine gathering. It presents an opportunity to critically examine how Nigeria can effectively programme interventions around intimate partner violence, identify existing gaps, strengthen coordination structures and ensure that gender-based violence interventions are properly reflected in Nigeria’s Global Fund Grant Cycle 8 funding proposal,” Ndubuisi said.
She emphasized that awareness campaigns alone are no longer sufficient to address the problem, calling instead for practical interventions that directly support survivors and address the root causes of violence.
According to her, UNDP and its partners are advocating for expanded survivor support systems, economic empowerment initiatives, behavioural change programmes, stronger referral mechanisms and improved access to healthcare and social services.
Also addressing participants, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Oyedepo Iseoluwa Rotimi (SAN), who represented the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, highlighted the strong link between gender-based violence, human rights violations and public health challenges.
Rotimi noted that although Nigeria has made significant progress in reducing HIV prevalence to approximately 1.4 percent, key populations and their partners continue to account for nearly 40 percent of new HIV infections despite representing less than five percent of the country’s population.
He identified stigma, discrimination, fear of arrest, social exclusion and breaches of confidentiality as some of the major factors discouraging vulnerable individuals from accessing healthcare services.
The senior advocate also expressed concern over the conditions faced by inmates in correctional facilities, survivors of human trafficking and victims of gender-based violence, noting that institutional weaknesses and legal barriers often worsen their situations.
According to him, Nigeria must adopt a more integrated approach that combines healthcare, legal protection and social support services.
He called for stronger integration of GBV screening and response mechanisms into HIV and tuberculosis programmes, expanded healthcare and legal services within correctional facilities, improved referral systems for trafficking survivors and increased investment in gender-responsive interventions.
Similarly, UNAIDS Country Director in Nigeria, Ms. Krittayawan Boonto, described gender-based violence as a global emergency that continues to affect millions of people despite existing laws and protections.
While acknowledging Nigeria’s efforts through legislation such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act and the Child Rights Act, Boonto noted that implementation and enforcement remain inconsistent in many parts of the country.
She expressed concern over the thousands of reported cases of gender-based violence recorded between January and April 2026, warning that the true scale of the problem may be significantly higher because many incidents go unreported.
According to her, effective interventions require clear targets, measurable outcomes and strong accountability mechanisms.
“We are here to ensure that available resources produce meaningful results. If interventions are not properly programmed with clear indicators, targets and accountability frameworks, they risk remaining mere aspirations rather than delivering real change,” Boonto stated.
The Head of HIV Programmes at the Global Fund, Dr. Izukanji Sikazwe, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to tackle the structural factors driving HIV transmission.
He explained that gender-based violence and intimate partner violence contribute significantly to the spread of HIV by discouraging victims from seeking prevention services, testing and treatment.
According to Sikazwe, the Global Fund is working closely with the Nigerian government, state institutions and community organisations to identify strategic investments capable of reducing violence while simultaneously improving access to HIV, tuberculosis and malaria services.
The organisation also commended Nigeria for introducing legal and policy reforms aimed at addressing GBV and IPV but expressed concern over reports indicating that many acts of violence are committed by family members, acquaintances and individuals in positions of trust.
Participants at the workshop are expected to produce a set of recommendations that will inform Nigeria’s Global Fund Grant Cycle 8 funding proposal and strengthen national mechanisms for preventing and responding to gender-based violence and intimate partner violence.
Stakeholders warned that unless urgent and coordinated action is taken, rising levels of violence against women and vulnerable groups could reverse gains recorded in public health, human rights, gender equality and social development.
They stressed that addressing gender-based violence is not only a human rights imperative but also a critical requirement for achieving better health outcomes, reducing HIV infections and building a more inclusive and equitable society.
The workshop concluded with renewed calls for stronger partnerships among government institutions, development agencies, civil society groups and local communities to ensure that survivors receive adequate support and that perpetrators are held accountable under the law.
