The Cost of Justice Anthology was born out of a deep exploration into the lived realities of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in local communities. Our baseline assessment revealed not only the alarming prevalence of abuse, but also the harmful traditional practices and pervasive stigma that silence survivors. Through a series of community engagements, we were privileged to hear survivors’ voices, many of them speaking their truth for the very first time.
From these powerful testimonies, three urgent themes emerged.
- Cost of Justice.
- Trapped in Silence.
- Gatekeepers.
Together, these narratives form the heart of this anthology a testament to resilience, a call for justice, and an invitation to break the silence.
The Cost of Justice Anthology is a South Saharan Social Development Organisation initiative, supported by the Ford Foundation.
From silence to justice
The Cost of Justice
The monetary, emotional, and social price women pay when they pursue redress.
Gatekeepers
People or institutions (family elders, police, courts, religious bodies, health services, employers, etc.) that enable or excuse harmful practices.
Trapped in Silence
The weight of stigma, shame, and community pressure that deters survivors from speaking out.
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Call for Stories
To bring these realities to light, we invited people from across Nigeria to share stories (whether lived or observed), around the anthology’s themes. The response was overwhelming, We received over 100 entries, each one a testimony of resilience, grief, courage, and truth. From these, a panel is carefully selecting 15 narratives that will anchor the anthology, ensuring that the voices carried within it are as powerful as they are representative.
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Call for Artists
But words alone cannot contain the depth of these experiences. Recognizing the transformative power of art, we launched a Call for Artists through Paint-a-thon. Visual artists are creating 2-D artworks inspired directly by the selected stories, turning narratives into images that confront, question, and amplify what too often remains unseen. These works will accompany the stories, creating an anthology that speaks through both ink and brush.
The Cost of Justice Anthology will be officially launched on 13 March 2026 in Abuja, Nigeria, as part of activities commemorating International Women’s Day.
The launch will be convened by the South Saharan Social Development Organisation (SSDO) in collaboration with UN Women, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing gender equality and strengthening responses to gender-based violence.
This event marks an important moment to spotlight the realities women face when seeking justice and to amplify the voices and experiences that inspired the anthology.
Drawing from community insights and survivor narratives, the launch will bring together stakeholders from civil society, development partners, community leaders, and advocates working to promote accountability, strengthen protection systems, and challenge the cultural and structural barriers that allow violence to persist.
Through this collaboration, SSDO and UN Women aim to deepen conversations on justice, elevate survivor-centred approaches, and reinforce collective action toward safer, more equitable communities.
JUST AS BAD
When a woman leaves her marriage without bruises to show, society often dismisses her pain. For years, Adewale controlled every
FRACTURED, YET UNBROKEN
As a child, Grace carried a secret no one saw. The uncle trusted in her home became the source of
BROKEN GLASS
From childhood, Chiamaka is recruited by her mother to be a silent “witness,” trained to notice every secret, bruise, and