Disaster Response Nigeria Project #77401

Support Sexual Health Rights for Women and Girls

by GoGreen Environmental Health Sustainability Initiatives

Project Report | Jul 12, 2026
A Call to Action Backed by Global Evidence

By Elizabeth Elachi | Project Leader

Dear Esteemed Donor,

The world’s leading health authorities have sounded the alarm: The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 1 in 3 women globally—about 30%—will experience physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. In Nigeria, the situation is dire. According to the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS, 2018), 31% of women have experienced physical violence since age 15, and 43% of women aged 20–24 were married before turning 18 (UNICEF, 2021).

These aren’t just statistics. They represent the real and urgent crisis facing women and girls in Benue State—crisis that cannot wait.

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is another grave concern. According to the UNFPA, 14% of Nigerian girls aged 15–19 have already been subjected to FGM—a practice that leads to profound and lifelong physical, psychological, and emotional trauma.

UNICEF further warns that Nigeria is home to 22 million child brides, the third highest number worldwide. These child marriages are linked to higher rates of maternal mortality, school dropout, and ongoing cycles of poverty and violence.

The evidence is overwhelming:

WHO: 1 in 3 women worldwide face physical or sexual violence.
NDHS (2018): 31% of Nigerian women experience physical violence; 14% of girls 15–19 already circumcised.
UNICEF (2021): 43% of women 20–24 married before 18; 22 million Nigerian child brides.

This is why GoGreen’s “Support Sexual Health Rights for Women and Girls” project is more critical than ever. Your support will empower 400 women, girls, and youth with accurate, rights-based sexual and reproductive health education, peer support, and safe spaces to heal and thrive.

With your help, we will:

Provide life-changing, evidence-based information and resources,
Mobilize local leaders and communities to reject harmful practices,
Strengthen enforcement of laws protecting girls and women, and
Foster measurable shifts in attitudes and practices that sustain gender inequality.

The world is watching, and the facts are clear. Now is the time to act—not just out of compassion, but out of a commitment to evidence, justice, and the universal right to safety and dignity.

Stand with us and with the world’s leading agencies. Let’s turn research into results—saving lives and transforming communities in Benue State.

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