REFUGEE WOMEN AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: COUNTRY STUDIES A report by Refugee Women’s Resource Project Asylum Aid Edition 5 May 2003 REFUGEE WOMEN AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: COUNTRY STUDIES A report by Refugee Women’s Resource Project Asylum Aid Edition 5 May 2003 Refugee Women and Domestic Violence: Country Studies, Edition 5, May 2003, Asylum Aid CONTENTS Acknowledgements ......................................................................................7 Explanatory note ..........................................................................................9 NIGERIA ........................................................................................................10 1. Introduction.............................................................................................10 1.1 Political background..........................................................................10 1.1.2 Ethnic and religious diversity......................................................10 1.2 Human rights practice.......................................................................12 1.3 Nigeria and international legal instruments.......................................15 1.4 Women’s human rights .....................................................................15 1.4.2 Women’s political participation ...................................................17 1.4.3 Trafficking...................................................................................17 2. Domestic violence ..................................................................................20 2.1 Prevalence and cultural attitudes......................................................20 2.1.1 The commodification of women in marriage – the bride price ....20 2.1.2 Violence common but under-reported ........................................21 2.2 Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)......................................................23 2.3 Forced and early marriage................................................................24 2.4 Rape and sexual violence.................................................................25 2.5 Abuse of reproductive rights .............................................................26 2.6 Widowhood rituals ............................................................................27 3. The law and domestic violence ..............................................................30 3.1 Assault..............................................................................................30 3.2 Rape and sexual assault...................................................................31 3.3 Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and the law...................................32 3.4 Forced and early marriage and the law ............................................33 3.5 Widows and the law..........................................................................34 3.5.1 Laws on inheritance of property discriminate against widows ....35 3.5.2 Loss of custody of children.........................................................35 3.5.3 Widows as property....................................................................35 4. The reality of seeking protection.............................................................38 4.1 Women and protection under the law ...............................................38 4.2 Religious discrimination under Sharia...............................................38 4.2.1 Discrimination against women....................................................39 4.2.2 Sharia courts ..............................................................................41 4.2.3 Recourse to appeal to federal authorities...................................42 4.2.4 A summary of specific cases......................................................44 4.3 Difficulties in reporting abuse............................................................45 4.4 The police .........................................................................................45 4.5 The judiciary .....................................................................................46 4.6 Other support services......................................................................47 5 Refugee Women and Domestic Violence: Country Studies, Edition 5, May 2003, Asylum Aid 5. The situation of separated and divorced women....................................50 5.1 Marriage and divorce ........................................................................50 5.2 Economic security.............................................................................51 5.2.1 Access to employment ...............................................................51 5.2.2 Restrictions on employment under Sharia..................................52 5.3 Property rights ..................................................................................52 5.4 Access to education..........................................................................53 5.5 Access to healthcare ........................................................................54 Bibliography ...............................................................................................56 Appendix A.................................................................................................64 Home Office Country Assessment, October 2002......................................64 6 Refugee Women and Domestic Violence: Country Studies, Edition 5, May 2003, Asylum Aid Acknowledgements This edition of the report was written by Bethany Collier and Clare Palmer, Researchers, Refugee Women’s Resource Project (RWRP), Asylum Aid, with the assistance of other Asylum Aid staff and members of the RWRP Advisory Committee. It is an addition to the previous reports of September 2001, March 2002, September 2002 and February 2003. We would particularly like to thank Diana Mills and Steve Symonds for their support and assistance. We are very grateful to Asma’u Joda (Women Living Under Muslim Laws), Carina Tertsakiam (Human Rights Watch), Enrique Estoy (Amnesty International) and Mary Salinsky for providing information and commentary on the report. The RWRP and Asylum Aid are funded by the Community Fund, the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, Womankind Worldwide, Association of London Government, the Nuffield Foundation, Clifford Chance, Doughty Street Chambers, Two Garden Court Chambers, 11 King’s Bench Walk Chambers, Matrix Chambers and many charitable trusts. We apologise for not mentioning all funders and supporters individually and gratefully acknowledge the support of them all. © Asylum Aid 2003. Excerpts from this report may be copied for use in presenting and assessing asylum claims, and also in related activities, when its authorship should be acknowledged. The report is available online at www.asylumaid.org.uk Refugee Women’s Resource Project Asylum Aid 28 Commercial Street London E1 6LS Tel: 020 7377 5123 Fax: 020 7247 7789 Email: [email protected] 7 Refugee Women and Domestic Violence: Country Studies, Edition 5, May 2003, Asylum Aid 8 Refugee Women and Domestic Violence: Country Studies, Edition 5, May 2003, Asylum Aid Explanatory note This publication is the fifth edition of the report Refugee Women and Domestic Violence: Country Studies, published by RWRP in September 2001, March 2002, September 2002 and February 2003. Those reports examined the situation in 10 countries – Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Iran, Iraqi Kurdistan, Kosovo and Pakistan. Edition 1 also included an introduction, which outlined the aims and objectives of the report, and an overview of the issue of domestic violence in the context of refugee and asylum law. This edition consists of an additional country study on Nigeria. Copies of the first four editions of the report can be obtained from RWRP at the address on the previous page at £10 each. Alternatively, the reports can be downloaded from our website. Refugee Women’s Resource Project May 2003 9 Refugee Women and Domestic Violence: Country Studies, Edition 5, May 2003, Asylum Aid NIGERIA 1. Introduction 1.1 Political background Nigeria is a federal republic composed of 36 states; it has one Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The states are subdivided into 769 local government areas.1 In 1999 Nigeria made the transition from a centralized military administration to a constitutionally mandated bicameral legislature, headed by an elected president, currently President Olusegun Obasanjo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). President Obasanjo won election to a four year term in February 1999 and was inaugurated on 29 May 1999.2 However the US State Department notes that the 1999 elections were marred by fraud and irregularities perpetrated by all contesting parties. However, most observers agreed the elections reflected the will of the majority of voters.3 Political tension increased during the run up to the April 2003 elections. Human Rights Watch considered the tensions to be an expression of disillusionment with the lack of fundamental change since the transition to democracy in 1999.4 President Obasanjo defeated his main rival to win the presidential election with 24.5 million votes compared to 12.7 million for Muhammadu Buhari. However, Buhari, other opposition parties and some election monitors claimed widespread fraud and vote-rigging.5 1.1.2 Ethnic and religious diversity Nigeria is the tenth most populous country in the world with 129.9 million people in 2001.6 Nigeria contains vast ethnic diversity with over 250 ethnic groups. The largest ethnic groups are