VICTIM BLAMING AND CRIME REPORTING IN LAGOS STATE.

Blaming victims in cases of rape and domestic violence is a critical barrier hindering reporting of the crime and accessing justice in Lagos State, Nigeria. Previous studies have examined the prevalence of these crimes; limited focus has been paid to the relationship between victim- blaming and crime reporting and how Africa’s cultural norms uniquely contribute to and perpetuate victim-blaming. This study investigated victim blaming, with a view to identifying factors that perpetuate it, its effects on victims, perpetrators and implication on crime reporting. Mixed method (quantitative and qualitative) was used. Data were collected using questionnaires, which were administered to 400 respondents from Ipaja community, Lagos. 16 persons were interviewed, including 6 staff members from Lagos State DSVA, 1 staff member from Mirabel center, 5 victims and 4 police officers. Victim Precipitation by Marvin Wolfgang served as the framework. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Victim-blaming were found and cultural norms, religious belief, patriarchy, rape myths, institutional failures and economic dependency contributed to victim-blaming. 70.7% respondents believed that societal power imbalance contributed to victim-blaming, reflecting structural gender inequality. Distrust of law enforcement delayed legal processes, and the perceived impunity of perpetrators further discouraged reporting. These findings evince the need for positive socialization, cultural reorientation, retraining of social responders, positive and widespread community awareness to tackle the root causes of victim blaming of sexual and domestic violence in Lagos State.