Amina’s story reflects a wider pattern where people with disabilities, especially children and women, face a higher risk of sexual abuse and violence, often by people they know. Some survivors speak of living with constant fear that reporting abuse could lead to abandonment by family or caregivers. Image credit: Nigeria Health WatchA disproportionate burdenGlobally, people with disabilities experience higher rates of sexual violence and face greater barriers to reporting and recovery. Several other factors contribute to the higher risk of sexual abuse faced by people with disabilities in Nigeria. In a national study conducted in 2022 by the Africa Polling Institute, 64% of respondents said women with disabilities are more vulnerable to sexual abuse than women without disabilities.