LEGAL RIGHTS AND PROTECTION OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Domestic violence is an aged-long recurrent glitch, which inflicts a widespread harm on victims with perpetrators often left unchallenged without any remedy to the victim. Domestic violence is a global issue that has affected human existence in all sectors of the society. The hazard of domestic violence on people in the society, especially women and children is of serious concern as it has led to the untimely death of many, depravity, permanent damage or deformity in the body of victims. These anomalies have attracted the intervention of the Government, Non-Governmental Organizations and International Human Rights Organizations such as the United Nations, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, amongst others. It is worrisome that despite the moves of numerous legal frameworks on domestic violence and protection of the rights of victims, domestic violence still persists as one major incongruity in the Nigeria societies. This worrisome catalyst termed domestic violence affecting all parts of the human society is what births this research. In this regard, this research adopts the doctrinal legal research methodology and research on the rights of victims of domestic violence and legal protection. On this premise, this research recommends a reformation of the legal frameworks on prevention of domestic violence and protection of the rights of victims, so as to ensure adequate access to justice, medical care and psychological care.