147 Vol. 2, No. 2, June, 2016 Gender-based Violence Experiences and Reactions in Ibadan Metropolis Nigeria Azeez, A. Department of Sociology University of Ibadan Ibadan, Nigeria +2348053079102 ABSTRACT Gender-based violence has become a part of the human society for a fairly long time. Many local and international treaties have been signed and various national policies pursued. These efforts are yet yield the positive result of equality for women with men in social, political and economic spheres. Culture and socialization process have not helped in making this achievable. This study was carried out to investigate victim’s responses against gender-based violence among 327 respondents in Ibadan, Nigeria. Findings revealed that 68.5% respondents who reportedly reacted to non-physical gender-based violence left redress for God; only 7.3% of the respondents took legal action and 9.7% reportedly fought the perpetrators of such act. In effect, 83% of the perpetrators are likely to continue such act. Affected individuals should be encouraged to seek legal redress through media and local initiatives which is pivotal in achieving gender equality, nay Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Keywords: Gender-based violence, Women health, Victims, Non-physical violence, Local initiatives, Nigeria Aims Research Journal Reference Format: Azeez, A (2016): Gender-based Violence Experiences and Reactions in Ibadan Metropolis Nigeria. Advances in Multidisciplinary Research Journal. Vol 2, No.2 Pp 147-156 1. BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY Gender-based violence is a key health risk for women globally. Violence against women is now widely recognized as a serious human right abuse, and an important public health problem with substantial consequences – physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health (WHO, 2005 and Dunkle et al, 2004). Despite the fact that Nigeria is a signatory to almost all of the international conventions on women’s rights, which heralded the national gender policy to promote gender equity, her efforts have not translated into the expected social sphere for the women folk (Country Information and Guidance, 2015 & Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey NDHS, 2013). Women, as a result, continue to be at the receiving end of violence in Nigeria (Oladeji, 2013 & Okemgbo et al, 2002). For instance, women are regarded as objects to be used for pleasure, temptation and elimination (NDHS, 2013). Also, Arisi and Oromareghake (2011) report men’s double standard against women. While the concept ‘women’ is used generically for females (George, 2015). Studies affirm that gender violence is shockingly high and not limited to Nigeria (NDHS, 2013). The improvement of socio-economic status of women and professional counselling will reduce significantly the incidence of violence against women (Oluremi, 2015; Oladepo, Yusuf & Arulogun, 2011 and Adekeye, Abimbola & Adeusi, 2011). The impeded the MDGs for women and girls (Saferworld, 2015) and currently affecting Sustainable Development Goals. Specifically, this violence includes women’s double burden of productive and reproductive labour; the number of women dependents (including the injured and orphaned); the diseased and malnourished women and girls (Saferworld, 2015; Ormhaug, Meier and Hernes, 2009 & Rehn and Sirleaf, 2002). In domestic violence, NDHS 2013 reported that justification for battering women by their spouses includes: ‘argues with him’, ‘burns food’, ‘goes out without telling him’, ‘neglects the children’ and ‘refusal of sex’. The absence of national laws criminalizing gender- based violence has not helped and some federal laws even allow such violence. For example, the law permits husbands to use physical means to chastise their wives as long as it does not result in ‘grievous harm’, which is defined as loss of sight, hearing, or speech; facial disfigurement; or life-threatening injuries (Alokan, 2013). In effect, this does not exempt any category of women whether employed or not (Adekeye, Abimbola & Adeusi, 2011).