In Lagos, Nigeria, victims of domestic violence, mostly women and girls, are afraid to report incidents because of stigmatization. Although some are silenced victims, others are reporting their incidents to community and government organizations.
The number of women who are reporting their experience of domestic violence has risen over the past couple of years. The year 2018 saw a 134 percent increase in the cases of gender-based violence across the city. The numbers keep rising, yet the question remains: Has there been a significant change in the rates at which women experience domestic violence? Or, can the increase be attributed to women feeling more comfortable and empowered to discuss the issue?
![A poster commemorates the "First All Male Walk Against Domestic and Sexual Violence." Image by Joy Ikekhua. Nigeria, 2019.](/sites/default/files/07-25-19/screen_shot_2019-07-25_at_12.12.13_pm.jpg "A poster commemorates the "First All Male Walk Against Domestic and Sexual Violence." Image by Joy Ikekhua. Nigeria, 2019.")
