As Nigerian women go out to exercise their civic duty on 25 February, Invictus Africa has highlighted ways women can avoid being victims of election-related violence.
Development Diaries reports that election-related violence against women includes threat or actual acts of physical, mental, sexual, or cyber violence.
According to Nigeria’s electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 47.5 percent of the registered 93 million voters are women.
There have been several reported cases of women voters and female election workers in Nigeria being targeted, harassed and assaulted as they head to the polls.
A study conducted by Violence Against Women in Politics (VAWiP) showed that the most common forms of violence reported against women were intimidation, physical harm, murder and death threats either to particular women candidates, their family members or ordinary women who are party supporters.
Using infographics, the civil society organisation (CSO) shared some tips women heading out to vote need to consider.
‘Stay alert and be aware of your environment. Avoid hotspot and areas prone to violence’, it noted in the post on its Twitter page.
‘Minimise movement and only move about when there is daylight. Do not move around alone (especially for women with disabilities).
‘Inform someone of your movement, avoid heated debates or unnecessary arguments about the candidates or the elections’.
The CSO also advised women to obey all rules from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), including security and safety precautions.
It further advised them to charge their phone, have sufficient airtime and save important numbers (emergency numbers).
GET HELP!
If you experience Election-Related Violence Against Women (ER-VAW) before, during, or after the elections, here’s where to get help.
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— Invictus Africa (@InvictusAfrica) February 24, 2023
Over 80 million Nigerians are expected at the polls on Saturday, 25 February, to elect the successor to President Muhammadu Buhari and federal lawmakers.
Photo source: Commonwealth Secretariat
