Gender-Based Domestic Violence in Nigeria: A Socio-Legal Perspective

Gender-based domestic violence, often targeted against women and girl children, is a global problem that has, in recent times, assumed an alarming proportion and dimension. The consequences of domestic violence are legion-it takes a devastating toll on women, families and nations, and furthermore, recent researches have shown increasing links between domestic violence and the high vulnerability of women to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). This article, as the title indicates, focusses on domestic violence in Nigeria; it identifies and examines the various factors that have, over the years, militated against the eradication of this type of violence. The article proffers solutions on the best way forward in order to stem this growing tide of violence often targeted against women and girl children in Nigerian homes.