A qualitative study of community engagement as a response model to sexual and gender-based violence in camps for internally displaced persons in northeast Nigeria

Abstract

Sexual gender-based violence (SGBV), such as rape, is often inherent in armed conflict settings. The high prevalence of SGBV in the ongoing armed conflict in northeastern Nigeria has been documented in various publications, primarily by human rights and advocacy groups. However, little is known about the effectiveness of existing community engagement interventions in assisting rape victims or as preventative measures. In assessing existing community engagement programs, aid workers and service providers can shed light on the impacts of social, cultural, policy, and economic factors on such programs. Community, organizational, and policy-level interventions need to be restructured to prioritize preventative measures such that the economic and social empowerment of female Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). Such an approach may lead to a reduction in dependency on external factors for survival, which often expose female IDPs in resettlement camps in the northeastern regions to sexual violence. Additionally, resources should be diverted to support tertiary medical and psychological awareness training interventions for the sustainment of intervention programs. Finally, findings in this study show positive results in reducing rape in the IDP communities when the affected population is included in all levels of intervention building. Keywords: IDP, Community Engagement, Nigeria, Displaced Women, Sexual Violence, Rape