Abstract

Violence is an act that causes pain, suffering, societal prejudice, humiliation, ostracism, marginalization or even death. Any action carried out intentionally or unintentionally but which affects an individual negatively in an injurious or destructive manner maybe perceived as violence. Violence may be political, social, emotional or religious depending on the situation surrounding a given society. Any form of violence is an abuse of human rights which restricts or denies an individual access to his or her rights in society. Such universal basic rights are rights to live, freedom of thought, speech or religion, freedom of movement, choice, acceptance and security. Unfortunately the girl-child has suffered most in our society, both within the family and other social institutions that are meant to train, educate and socialize her. The girl-child in many African societies, Nigeria not exempt, has been sexually abused, trafficked, denied education, humiliated, oppressed and suppressed. She has been subjected to various forms of gender-based violence such as domestic violence, cultural violence, rape, forced prostitution and forced early marriage. These impinge on the growth, rights and physical well being of the female gender especially the girl child, with huge and grave consequences. The thrust of this paper is to see the extent the girl-child has been exposed to violence, how far she suffers and is still suffering from one form of violence to another. The paper concludes that despite the violence prohibition Act of 2015 the girl-child is still very much subjected to violence and if definite steps are not put into action the girl-child will continue to be deprived of her rights.

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