The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has raised fresh concerns over the large number of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence who do not seek help or report their experiences, warning that the culture of silence continues to undermine the fight against perpetrators and weaken efforts to secure justice for victims.
The agency made the disclosure during a capacity-building programme for journalists on responsible reporting of sexual and gender-based violence, where participants were trained on ethical, survivor-centred and evidence-based approaches to covering cases of abuse.
The programme was designed to equip journalists with the knowledge and professional skills required to report sexual and gender-based violence responsibly while supporting the implementation and enforcement of laws and policies aimed at protecting survivors.
NAPTIP also said the training would strengthen institutions, improve coordination among relevant stakeholders and enhance the enforcement of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act across the country.
One of the facilitators, Toyin Adewale-Gabriel, said the reported 21 per cent prevalence of violence against women demonstrated the disturbing scale of the problem and the urgent need for sustained media attention.
She said the revelation that 58 per cent of survivors do not seek help or report their experiences was particularly troubling, noting that the situation demonstrated the need for responsible journalism capable of rebuilding public confidence and creating an environment where survivors feel safe enough to speak.
Adewale-Gabriel urged journalists to abandon sensational approaches to reporting sexual and gender-based violence and instead adopt ethical, sensitive and survivor-centred practices.
She maintained that consistent and responsible media coverage could play a crucial role in breaking the silence surrounding sexual and gender-based violence, challenging harmful social norms and encouraging more survivors to seek assistance.
Another facilitator, Toyin Aniebonam, examined the influence of gender roles, stereotypes and media narratives on public attitudes towards sexual and gender-based violence.
Aniebonam warned that irresponsible reporting could reinforce the very stereotypes that allow abuse to persist, urging journalists to use their platforms to provide accurate information, expose perpetrators and demand accountability from institutions responsible for protecting citizens.
He also challenged journalists to stop treating sexual and gender-based violence as isolated incidents that disappear from public attention once the initial news report is published.
According to him, journalists should follow cases beyond the first report and continue to monitor investigations, prosecutions and judicial proceedings until justice is delivered.
Dr Lauratu Abdulsalam, who spoke on media stereotypes, victim blaming and the challenges involved in reporting sexual and gender-based violence, warned that the language and presentation used by journalists could either protect survivors or compound their trauma.
She identified headlines, language, photographs, videos and story angles as important elements that could determine how the public perceives both survivors and alleged perpetrators.
Abdulsalam urged journalists, influencers and community correspondents to ensure that their reports remained ethical, factual and evidence-based, stressing that coverage should focus on accountability rather than shifting blame to victims.
Speaking on international and regional frameworks for addressing sexual and gender-based violence, Dr Armsfree Ajanaku said Nigeria’s domestic efforts were complemented by international and regional instruments, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Maputo Protocol and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Ajanaku said the fight against sexual and gender-based violence required sustained commitment from government institutions, civil society organisations, development partners, the media and citizens.
Adekoye also took participants through NAPTIP’s mandate and the implementation of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015.
He disclosed that 34 states had domesticated the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, leaving Kogi and Delta states as the only states yet to domesticate the legislation.
The NAPTIP spokesperson further disclosed that the agency had secured three life-imprisonment convictions in sexual and gender-based violence-related cases.
He, however, warned that technology-facilitated abuse was creating additional challenges in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence.
According to him, the increasing use of digital platforms has created new avenues through which perpetrators can harass, threaten, exploit and abuse victims, making public awareness and stronger institutional cooperation increasingly necessary.
He called for greater collaboration among government agencies, law enforcement institutions, civil society organisations, the media and other relevant stakeholders to confront emerging forms of abuse and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable.
The training also addressed the sensitive responsibilities involved in reporting cases concerning victims and survivors, including confidentiality, privacy and informed consent.
Participants were trained on responsible language and framing, survivor-centred visual ethics, victimology, different categories of victims and theories of victimisation.
The programme further examined Nigeria’s national legal and regulatory framework on sexual and gender-based violence, NAPTIP’s mandate and the provisions of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act.
The facilitators emphasised that journalism must not merely report that violence has occurred but should also contribute to protecting survivors, challenging harmful beliefs, exposing institutional failures and keeping the public informed about the pursuit of justice.
They stressed that when journalists report sexual and gender-based violence responsibly and consistently, they can help dismantle the culture of silence, strengthen public accountability and create greater pressure on institutions to protect survivors and prosecute perpetrators.