Nigerians call for stronger action to protect women and girls – Afrobarometer

Report on Gender Equality and Institutional Performance in Nigeria: An SDG Perspective

Institutional Shortcomings in Upholding SDG 5 and SDG 16

• A significant majority (75%) of Nigerians perceive that law enforcement and judicial systems are failing to protect women and girls from discrimination and harassment. This indicates a critical gap in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), particularly Target 16.3 concerning equal access to justice for all.
• This institutional failure directly undermines progress towards SDG 5 (Gender Equality), specifically Target 5.1, which calls for an end to all forms of discrimination against women and girls.
• While a majority of Nigerians believe harassment complaints are likely to be taken seriously, a substantial minority of approximately 25% express a lack of confidence in the system, further highlighting institutional weaknesses.

Prevalence of Public Harassment and Disproportionate Impact on Vulnerable Populations

• The survey reveals a significant challenge to SDG 5, Target 5.2 (Eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls in public spheres), with nearly one-sixth of the population reporting that women “often” or “always” face sexual harassment in public spaces.
• Reports of harassment are more prevalent among women, the very poor, and adults without formal education. This disparity underscores the intersectional nature of inequality and points to a failure in achieving SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
• Public perception on the frequency of harassment is distributed as follows:
  • Often or Always: ~16.7%
  • Rare: ~33.3%
  • Never: 50%

Barriers to Economic Empowerment and Progress on SDG 4 and SDG 8

• The report identifies key barriers preventing women’s full participation in the workforce, directly impacting SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
• The most frequently cited obstacles are:

1. Employer preference for hiring men, a clear form of gender discrimination.
2. Inadequate education or skills among women, highlighting a gap in achieving SDG 4 (Quality Education) and its target on eliminating gender disparities in education and vocational training.
3. Prevailing social norms that discourage women from working, which impede progress on economic empowerment targets within SDG 5.

Analysis of SDGs in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • The article directly addresses gender equality by focusing on the discrimination, harassment, and violence faced by women and girls in Nigeria. It also highlights the barriers to women’s economic participation, such as employer preferences and social norms, which are central to SDG 5.

2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • This goal is relevant because the article explicitly mentions the role of institutions like the “police and courts.” The finding that “Three-quarters of Nigerians believe that police and courts are not doing enough to protect women and girls” points to a failure in providing access to justice and ensuring the rule of law for all citizens, a key aspect of SDG 16.

3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • The article connects to SDG 8 by identifying “obstacles to women’s participation in the workforce.” Issues like “employers’ preference for hiring men” and “inadequate education or skills among women” are direct barriers to achieving full and productive employment and decent work for all, as promoted by this goal.

4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • This goal is addressed as the article highlights how the experience of harassment is not uniform across the population. The statement that “Reports of harassment are higher among women, the very poor, and adults who lack formal schooling” shows an inequality of outcome and experience based on gender, economic status, and education level.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Targets under SDG 5 (Gender Equality)

   • Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. The article’s mention of “discrimination and harassment” and “employers’ preference for hiring men” directly relates to this target.
   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres. This is addressed by the finding that “close to one-sixth of Nigerians say women ‘often’ or ‘always’ experience sexual harassment in public spaces.”
   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities… in economic… life. The identification of “obstacles to women’s participation in the workforce” speaks directly to the challenge of achieving this target.

2. Targets under SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law… and ensure equal access to justice for all. The article highlights a gap in achieving this target, as a majority believe police and courts are failing to protect women, and “roughly one-quarter express a lack of confidence” that harassment complaints will be taken seriously, indicating unequal access to justice.

3. Targets under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

   • Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value. The “employers’ preference for hiring men” is a direct barrier to achieving this target of full and equal employment for women.

4. Targets under SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… sex… or other status. The obstacles preventing women from joining the workforce and the higher incidence of harassment among the poor and less educated point to a lack of social and economic inclusion for these groups.
   • Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome. The article’s data showing that women, the poor, and the uneducated face higher rates of harassment demonstrates an inequality of outcome that this target aims to eliminate.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not cite official SDG indicators, but the Afrobarometer survey data it presents can serve as proxy indicators to measure public perception and experience related to the targets.

• Indicator for harassment prevalence (related to Target 5.2): The proportion of the population reporting that women “often” or “always” experience sexual harassment in public spaces. The article states this is “close to one-sixth of Nigerians.”
• Indicator for institutional effectiveness and trust (related to Target 16.3): The proportion of the population believing that police and courts are not doing enough to protect women and girls. The article quantifies this as “Three-quarters of Nigerians.”
• Indicator for confidence in the justice system (related to Target 16.3): The proportion of the population that lacks confidence that complaints of harassment will be taken seriously. The article identifies this as “roughly one-quarter.”
• Indicator for perceived barriers to economic participation (related to Targets 5.5 and 8.5): The most frequently cited obstacles to women’s workforce participation, such as “employers’ preference for hiring men, inadequate education or skills among women, and social norms discouraging women from working.”

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: afrobarometer.org