IS VIOLENCE NATURAL - OR HAVE WE SIMPLY LEARNED TO ACCEPT IT?

Violence has long been framed as a natural part of the human experience — an inevitable by-product of our instincts for survival or dominance.

But is violence truly ingrained in who we are, or is it something we have normalised, nurtured, and passed down through generations?

When we confront the realities around us, it becomes painfully clear:

Violence is not natural. Violence is systemic. Violence is a choice that society too often protects and excuses.

Rethinking "Human Nature"

Yes, humans carry within them the instincts for aggression and defence, an ancient response born of a need to survive. But alongside these instincts, we also carry the capacity for compassion, empathy, and care.

If violence were simply inevitable, why have nearly all societies developed laws, customs, moral codes, and religions designed to curb it?

The truth is:

Violence persists not because it is natural, but because systems, traditions, and institutions allow it to. Nowhere is this more visible — and more devastating — than in the violence inflicted on women and girls.

Violence against Women: The Silent Pandemic

Across the world, women face daily threats to their safety in their homes, workplaces, schools, and public spaces.

In Nigeria, for instance, intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and harassment are pervasive realities.

Legal protections such as the Violence against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP Act) of 2015 exist, and it criminalises acts like domestic abuse, rape, and harmful practices. Yet enforcement remains patchy. In many states, the law is still not fully implemented. Survivors often encounter stigma, disbelief, and endless delays in seeking justice.

Public attention to gender-based violence tends to erupt only when the violence is so brutal, so extreme, that it can no longer be hidden. A young woman was beaten to death. A minor was assaulted by someone who was meant to protect her. A name trends on social media, hashtags are created, and demands for justice are shouted. And then the noise fades until the next tragedy.

 Meanwhile, the quieter, daily violence - the harassment at work, the coercion at home, the sexual abuse in schools - continues unseen and unaddressed.

Even worse, many survivors are unwilling or unable to speak out. They fear judgment, blame, and retaliation. They distrust the systems meant to protect them. And for many women, silence is not consent, it is survival.

Why Does This Continue?

Violence persists because society still prioritises reputation over truth, silence over justice, and power over accountability.

In many communities, violence against women is still treated as a "private" issue — something to be hidden rather than confronted.

Cultural norms discourage victims from speaking up, framing their suffering as something shameful, something they must endure for the sake of family, honour, or community. And so, even today, in an age of global movements, international treaties, and human rights declarations, violence against women remains one of the most widespread, yet under-addressed, human rights violations in the world.

What Must Change?

Ending gender-based violence demands more than outrage after tragedy. It requires persistent, structural, and cultural change. It also requires action at every level of society — from grassroots activism to government policy, from media accountability to individual courage.

Here are some crucial steps forward:

a)      Strengthening enforcement of existing laws:

Laws like the VAPP Act must not exist only on paper. Police, courts, and social services must be trained, equipped, and held accountable for providing protection and justice for survivors.

b)      Grassroots activism and community engagement:

Change does not start only from the top. It grows in homes, schools, religious spaces, and communities. Activists, community leaders, teachers, and young people must continue to raise awareness, challenge harmful norms, and create safe spaces for dialogue and support.

c)      Comprehensive education:

Gender-based violence must be addressed through education, not just legal education, but cultural education. Schools must teach respect, consent, equality, and conflict resolution from an early age.

 d)      Survivor-centred justice:

Survivors must be believed, supported, and empowered. The justice system must prioritise their safety, dignity, and healing, not the comfort of perpetrators or the protection of reputations.

e)      Changing media narratives:

The media must stop sensationalising violence only after a tragedy. We need sustained, thoughtful coverage of everyday gender-based violence, systemic failures, and grassroots efforts for change.

f)       Breaking the culture of silence:

We must create environments — in workplaces, schools, religious institutions, and homes — where survivors feel safe to speak and are encouraged to seek help without fear of stigma.

Final Reflection

Violence is not destiny.

It is a reflection of the values we choose to uphold or refuse to challenge. The future will be shaped not by what we claim to believe, but by what we are willing to confront. It will be shaped by whether we continue to normalise silence or choose to break it. Whether we continue to excuse injustice or commit ourselves to ending it.

We must be relentless.

We must be loud.

We must be builders of a world where violence is not inevitable, and justice is not optional.

Violence is a choice.

Let us choose differently.