As the world marks the International Women’s Day 2026, the SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria has called on the different tiers of governments and humanitarian partners to strengthen protection systems for women and girls affected by conflict, displacement and climate-related disasters across the country.
The organisation made the call in a statement on Monday, noting that women and children constitute the majority of Nigeria’s internally displaced population.
According to the SOS, Nigeria currently hosts more than 3.4 million internally displaced persons, largely due to insurgency in the North-East and banditry in the North-West, with women and children accounting for nearly 80 per cent of the affected population.
The National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Nigeria, Eghosa Erhumwunse, said the situation has left many women and girls vulnerable to gender-based violence and other forms of exploitation.
“Women and girls in conflict-affected and disaster-prone communities face systemic exposure to gender-based violence, including abduction, trafficking and forced marriage used as tactics of war,” Erhumwunse said.
He added that humanitarian assessments show that at least one in three women in such environments experiences physical or sexual violence.
“Many displaced women also face a serious protection gap due to the collapse of local justice mechanisms and the loss of legal documentation, leaving them unable to access protection or pursue justice,” he pointed out.
Erhumwunse noted that the 2026 International Women’s Day theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls,” highlights the urgent need to move beyond symbolic commitments to structural reforms that protect women’s rights.
“Progress toward gender equality can not remain symbolic. Rights without enforcement are merely promises on paper, while justice without accessibility becomes a form of exclusion, particularly for displaced and rural women,” he stressed.
The SOS Director explained that emergencies such as conflicts, displacements, and climate shocks often deepen existing inequalities and disrupt women’s livelihoods.
“Floods and climate shocks destroy homes, farmland and small businesses, sectors where women are highly active. At the same time, protection systems are overstretched, and women’s participation in recovery planning is often limited,” he added.
Despite the challenges, the organisation noted that women continue to play critical roles in sustaining communities during crises.
“Women are usually the first responders in their communities. They organise food networks, sustain informal livelihoods, provide psychosocial support, and help stabilise families even before formal systems arrive,” Erhumwunse said.
However, he cautioned against romanticising women’s resilience while ignoring the systemic failures that expose them to harm.
“Strength should not replace safety, and survival should not substitute for rights. True recovery depends on systems that protect, includes upholding the rights of women and girls,” he said.
The organisation called for urgent reforms, including the removal of discriminatory laws and customs that limit women’s inheritance rights, land ownership, and economic participation.
It also urged authorities to strengthen enforcement of protection laws in conflict-affected states, where impunity remains widespread.
“Justice must be survivor-centred, prioritising confidentiality, dignity, and accessibility. Women must also be equally represented in decision-making at every level of emergency response and recovery,” Erhumwunse maintained.
He added that protection for women in emergencies should be reflected in practical measures such as safe water points, gender-sensitive sanitation facilities, confidential reporting systems for gender-based violence, and accessible legal aid services.
Erhumwunse further called for sustained investment in women-led organisations working in fragile communities.
He remarked further, “International Women’s Day 2026 should serve as a national checkpoint for Nigeria to assess whether we are accelerating reforms or normalising inequality.
“Our collective future depends on how effectively we protect the rights of women and girls in the most vulnerable communities,” he concluded.
