Author: Vanessa Onyema

Femicide is more than a statistic; it is a brutal reminder of how deeply entrenched gender-based violence remains across societies. Every day, women and girls lose their lives simply because they are women, often at the hands of intimate partners or within communities that fail to protect them. Despite growing awareness, femicide continues to be…

In May 2025, the alarming rate of femicide persists, underscoring the urgent need for stronger interventions to combat the root causes of gender-based violence. This tragic reality unfolded during a month that, for many, was also a period of religious observance and celebration. This report aims to shed light on the lives tragically cut short…

The month of April 2025 continued to witness a devastating incidence of femicide in Nigeria, highlighting the persistent need for robust measures to tackle the underlying drivers of gender-based violence. Alongside this tragic reality, the month of April also marked the celebration of Easter. This report brings to light the lives lost to femicide and…

Nigerian women have big dreams and are working hard to improve their lives and communities, but they need more than just good wishes to succeed. An extensive survey of 100,000 women aged 15-55 in Nigeria conducted by the Gates Foundation shows that these women are ambitious and driven, but they face many roadblocks that keep…

As we continue to highlight the continuous incidence of femicide in Nigeria, the month of March witnessed yet another devastating toll of femicide in the country, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive action to address the root causes of gender-based violence. This report sheds light on the lives lost and the systemic failures perpetuating this…

The month of February is often regarded as the month of love but the continous incidence of femicide show that violence against women does not take a holiday. How can we reconcile this with the continued tragedy of gender-based violence as the reality of femicide continues to claim lives, a brutal counterpoint to what this…

An obstetric fistula (OF) is an “abnormal opening between a woman’s vagina and bladder and/or rectum through which urine (vesico-vaginal fistula) and/or faeces (recto-vaginal fistula) continually leak”. An obstetric fistula can also occur between the urethra and the vagina (urethrovaginal fistula), between the ureter and the vagina (ureterovaginal fistula) and rarely,  between the bladder and…

While the new year provides a sense of renewal, the harsh reality of femicide remains, casting an unsettling shadow over the festivities. Even in the early days of January, news of women’s lives being ruthlessly cut short emerged, emphasizing the critical need to address this widespread problem. How can we reconcile the promise of a…

In 2024, Haiti faced a major humanitarian crisis, marked by growing gang violence, widespread population displacement, and climate crises. Over one million people, primarily women and children, were displaced and sought safety in congested displacement sites. These situations worsen women and girls’ vulnerabilities, making them even more vulnerable to gender-based violence (GBV) and threats to…