Activism often brings to mind street protests, viral hashtags, or fleeting news stories. Yet, the battle against gender‑based violence (GBV) is anything but fleeting. It is a lifelong marathon that spans continents and involves complex layers of culture, law, and health. I recently spoke with Dr. Nwadanobi, a physician, activist, and the first Nigerian president of the Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA). Our conversation highlighted the ongoing struggle for women in medicine.
Dr. Nwadanobi views GBV not as isolated incidents but as a continuous pattern of harm that affects women throughout their lives.
| Life Stage | Typical Violence & Its Consequences |
|---|---|
| Girl (uneducated) | Lack of schooling leaves girls vulnerable to early‑marriage, forced sexual activity, and limited knowledge of reproductive health. Absence of dignity kits can force a girl to stay home during her period, exposing her to stigma and bullying. |
| Teenage Bride | Early or forced marriage often precedes obstructed labor, leading to obstetric fistulas—a condition that leaves women leaking urine, socially ostracized, and economically ruined. |
| Married Woman | Domestic violence is often justified under the guise of “household duties”: beating a wife for delayed meals, late returns, or failure to fetch water. |
| Widow | Cultural practices such as forced hair shaving, prolonged mourning attire, disinheritance, and the levirate (forced remarriage to a male relative) turn bereavement into a second trauma. In the context of HIV, these practices amplify disease transmission. |
These snapshots are not merely anecdotes; they are data points that reveal how gender‑based violence is woven into the very fabric of everyday life. Dr. Nwadanobi’s "life-course" perspective views gender-based violence (GBV) as a structural issue. It requires ongoing, cross-sector solutions rather than quick fixes.
The turning point for Dr. Nwadanobi’s activism came in 1994, when a grieving widow was forced to sit in sand, hair uncombed and dressed only in mourning cloth. Rather than passing by, the activist team sat beside her, prayed, and listened. That simple act of embodied solidarity sparked a systematic campaign:
Dr. Nwadanobi's metaphor of "locking our elbows arm-in-arm" brilliantly encapsulates the spirit of collective action. Change often comes from a collective effort rather than a single hero; it results from a united group that shares the responsibility.
While the physical manifestations of GBV remain stark, the digital realm adds a new, alarming layer. Dr. Nwadanobi reports that 58% of women globally have faced cyber-violence, and 90-95% of deepfake sexual videos are aimed at women. Even journalists—essential voices for accountability—face death threats online, underscoring how the battle now extends into cyberspace.
The 16‑Days of Activism campaign (Nov 25 – Dec 10) dedicates this year’s focus to uniting against cyber‑violence. For an intellectual audience, this raises several research questions:
These questions need collaboration across fields—lawyers, tech experts, sociologists, and health professionals should work together, similar to the "elbow-locked" activist army described by Dr. Nwadanobi
Dr. Nwadanobi aims to create a universal treaty that criminalizes all violence against women and girls, similar to the global tobacco treaty banning smoking on airplanes. Such a treaty would:
The analogy to tobacco control is instructive. Decades of advocacy, scientific research, and policy advocacy eventually led to a global, enforceable agreement. The same trajectory—though perhaps longer—could be imagined for GBV, provided we continue to lock elbows across sectors, cultures, and continents.
Dr. Nwadanobi's story is not just about personal success; it's a guide on how ongoing teamwork in activism can change deep-rooted cultural practices into recognized human rights. Scholars must analyze these processes, publish thorough studies, and engage in the collaborative effort she strongly advocates.
In a world of instant results, her journey shows that lasting change takes time and effort. Let us, therefore, commit to the long‑term, to the nuanced, and to the intellectual rigor that this vital work demands.
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If you found this synthesis interesting, please share it with colleagues, use the insights in your research, or join a local advocacy network. Together, we can keep the light of encouragement shining on the closed flowers of gender equity.