Break the Cycle: reducing violence against women and girls with disabilities in Nigeria

Women and girls with disabilities in Nigeria are at least twice as likely as other women and girls to experience rape, sexual abuse and intimate partner violence; Disability Rights Advocacy Centre’s 2017 study suggests that the more severe the impairments, the higher the risk of abuse. Economic dependency, lack of access to education, negative community attitudes and lack of support in society are all factors that contribute to this higher risk.

Our 3-year Break the Cycle project aims to reduce violence against women and girls with disabilities in Nigeria by helping them to become more economically independent. The project also aims to build confidence and leadership skills.

Together with Disability Rights Advocacy Centre (DRAC), we will be supporting over 700 women and girls with disabilities through:

• Leadership training and mentoring, with advanced training for those wanting to pursue careers in politics and public services
• Bridging the gap between disability and women’s movements in Nigeria, enabling them to join together for advocacy and events
• Supporting women and girls with disabilities to set up Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) in their communities, so they can start their own businesses and cover expenses like school fees, food and medical bills
• Ensuring girls with disabilities can access education, including carrying out accessibility audits in schools and joining with Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) and women’s groups
• Making communities more inclusive, by setting up peer support groups for caregivers of women and girls with disabilities and training male inclusion champions to speak at male gatherings and change attitudes towards women and girls with disabilities.

This project is funded by the UK government scheme, UK Aid Direct.