Does Feminist-Movement Building Reduce Violence Against Women? Good Practice Case Study: Women's Situation Room, Nigeria

The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) carried out a Good Practice Case Study on the Women's Situation Room initiative, set up during the 2015 general elections in Nigeria. Women's Situation Rooms had previously been implemented in Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Kenya. In Nigeria, the Women's Situation Room consisted of a physical Situation Room at a hotel, where 40 Incident Report Officers were able to receive calls through a toll-free number. In the Room, women conducted processes regarding intervention and mediation, coordination, political and legal analysis, observation of the polling process and recording and documentation.

While the entire outcome of the Women's Situation Room was judged as having had a positive impact on women's safety and electoral participation, the introduction of Intervention Desks, which ensured a rapid response to threats and incidents of violence against women, were highlighted as a Best Practice from which future Women's Situation Rooms can learn.