Eliminating harmful practices against women in Nigeria: an examination of the Violence against Women Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015

Domestic violence against women is a crime that has continued unabated at a very high rate in Nigeria. There are very minimal records of reportage of such offences, particularly in developing parts of the world where such incidents may be subtly encouraged by the culture and societal norms prevalent in the society in question. The increasing scourge of domestic violence against women in Nigeria continues at an astronomical scale, posing serious physical, mental, psychological and reproductive health challenges to women and girls in Nigeria, despite a plethora of legal and regulatory mechanisms proscribing all forms of violence in Nigeria. This article critically examines the Violence against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, and its prospects in combating the scourge of domestic violence against women in Nigeria. This essay recommends that necessary institutional measures be put in place for the strict enforcement of the provisions of this law.