Government of Nigeria and EU-UN Spotlight Initiative Jointly Launch the National Gender-Based Violence Data Situation Room and Dashboard in Nigeria

ABUJA, Nigeria - The Government of Nigeria and the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative have launched the first ever gender-based violence (GBV) data situation room and dashboard in Nigeria.

The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, declared the data situation room opened in Abuja, Nigeria on 17 November 2020.

Dignitaries at the launch included the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen; The United Nations Nigeria Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Edward Kallon; The Honorable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouk; the EU Ambassador, represented by Mr Clement Boutillier; The UNDP Resident Representative, Mr Yahya Mohmmed; The UN Women Resident Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Comfort Lamptey.

The Honorable Minister of Women Affairs Dame Pauline Tallen introduced the National Data Situation Room: “The National Data Situation Room is an Innovation data management and visualization platform which is expected to use technology to enable government, decision-makers and programme managers view and analyze gender-based violence data with ease. The situation room is hinged on the pillar five of the Spotlight Initiative: theory of change on data management in Nigeria implemented by UNDP, Population Council and other partners in close collaboration with the state ministries."

The persistence of violence against women and girls has become more glaring this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Nigerian Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu reported that 717 rape cases were reported within five months. This does not include all other forms of violence and harmful practices that women and girls face daily. This has created a deep sense of urgency in the need for more and better data to inform evidence-based programming to address violence against women and girls. 

“When we say in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that we leave no one behind, we need to know where the no ones are and without the data, we cannot see those people in those areas where this is happening and then target the end to violence against women and girls,” remarked Ms. Mohammed.

The Situation Room houses the data infrastructure for the online reporting platform (reportgbv.ng) with an output for real-time data visualization to provide analytics for a timely response and is the hub for GBV data in Nigeria. 

“The rising gender-based violence reminds us of how important quality and reliable data are," said Mr. Boutillier. "They are important to closely monitor the situation and help us best understand the nature and prevalence of this violence in order to enable us take decisive action.”

Considering that violence against women and girls is largely underreported, the place of data in ending violence against women and girls cannot be over-emphasized.

“Today, I am relieved for this evidence-based approach that you're embarking on in the Ministry of Women Affairs in partnership with the UN system," said Mr. Kallon. "We are pulling together our comparative advantages so that we can support government better and that is what we stand for, so, I'm proud to be here today.”
 
UNDP is working with partners to strengthen institutions, policies and data availability to end violence against women and girls.

“UNDP and the UN system will continue to support the Ministry and we'll be here with you in ensuring that the Situation Room becomes a success,” said UNDP Resident Representative Mohammed Yahya.

The event was live-streamed on social media platforms including the official platforms of the GBV data dashboard “ReportGBVng” on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter with more than 300 online participants and more than 4000 impressions.

Background

The Spotlight Initiative is a global, multi-year partnership between European Union and United Nations to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls by 2030. We are the world’s largest targeted effort to end all forms of violence against women and girls.

The Initiative represents an unprecedented global effort to invest in gender equality as a precondition and driver for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Spotlight Initiative is responding to all forms of violence against women and girls, with a focus on domestic and family violence, sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices, early child marriage, trafficking in human beings and sexual and economic (labour) exploitation. 

In Nigeria, the Spotlight Initiative is implemented in six states including Adamawa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Lagos, Sokoto and the FCT. 

More information, please contact:
Judith Owoicho judith.owoicho@one.un.org
Idongesit Inyang idongesit.inyang@undp.org