Justice to me is when women and young girls who have been abused physically and abused sexually can have the justice that is prevalent for other human rights crime. This is because an assault on a woman infringes on her persona and cripples her ability to be emotionally stable and capable of giving her quota as a member of the society.

The woman is the primary nurturer of the home. When a child can see or feel the hurt and pain of a mother, it affects them subconsciously and leaves and imprint that could be played out negatively as they grow older. Most of the crimes and breakdown of law and order within the home and the society, is as a result of childhood experiences which has affected them emotionally and they are incapable, sometimes, of reasoning what is right or wrong.

Due to cultural and traditional norms the woman has been silenced and she internalises her pain in a soundless cry that no one can hear. All that can be seen is the depth of pain in her eyes and the wrinkles on her face. Until we go back to the drawing board and refuse to allow cultural and traditional norms to down play the effect of violence on the family, the society and the Nation, we will continue to fight the effects and not the causative factors. Women need to be protected against the social norms that gives people the right to treat them inhumanely. The woman is the core of a home and therefore a nation. A nation with hurting women is a crippled nation because the nurturing required to bring forth able bodied leaders and fathers will be warped.

Laila St. Matthew-Daniel
ACTS Generation (gender based violence & abuse)
Lagos Nigeria