C onsumer R ights
usual objective is for the authorities to appease
rather. Than punish the abusive partner for fear of
backlash.
For the domestic violence law to be effective, the
various authorities involved must begin a vigorous
public enlightenment on the provision of this law.
The law “ to provide protection against domestic vi-
olence and for connected purposes” must therefore
not be a mere statute book but rather to be placed
in the public domain for all stakeholders and general
public to uphold. The populace must be sensitized
on what constitutes domestic violence, stipulated
punishments for perpetrators and procedures for
filling complaints which must be simplistic.
In Nigeria, the predominance of domestic violence
has gotten to an alarming level that enacting new
laws to curtail it might no longer be sufficient. The
issue. Of domestic violence is a social malady that
requires holistic approach and solution from all
the stakeholders. The civil society, traditional and
religious bodies, women rights groups, law enforce-
ment agencies, aLl tiers of government, families
must all work together with a view to stemming the
tide of this dreadful societal ill.
provide protection against domestic violence and for
connected purposes”. The law which came into force
in 2007 is specifically designed to protect the victims
of domestic violence.
However, only four states in the federation (lagos
inclusive) have paSsed laws. Against this menace,
whilst none of the several bills against it in the
National assembly is yet to see the light of the day
of the states that have passed it, the law is yet to be
fully tested.
The law has been passed for five years, I.e. The
domestic violence law, very little or nothing is known
about it. Even the custodians of the law, the judicial
officials, law enforcement agents, legal practitioners
and other social workers, victims and culprits. Are
ignorant of the law.
Domestic violence condones such violations of their
rights as some perceive to as sign of love and the
socio-religious belief that a broken marriage or rela-
tionship is a mark of failure in life due to poverty and
economic dependency on men, many female victims
may also choose to suffer in silence for fear of losing
the economic support of the male perpetrator. This
trend is evident in several of the reported cases
where victims prefer to withdraw their complaints
where it becomes apparent that punitive measures
will be meted out to. The abusive spouse. Their
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