COUNTRY PROFILE: FGM IN NIGERIA October 2016 Registered Charity: No. 1150379 Limited Company: No: 08122211 E-mail: [email protected] © 28 Too Many 2016 ` CONTENTS FOREWORD 3 BACKGROUND 4 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS 5 A NOTE ON DATA 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7 IMPACT CASE STUDY: SOCIETY FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF RURAL PEOPLE 10 INTRODUCTION 11 GENERAL NATIONAL STATISTICS 13 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS 14 POLITICAL BACKGROUND 15 1 ANTHROPOLOGICAL BACKGROUND 17 OVERVIEW OF FGM IN NIGERIA 21 SOCIOLOGICAL BACKGROUND 26 HEALTHCARE SYSTEM 29 EDUCATION 36 RELIGION 41 MEDIA 43 ATTITUDES AND KNOWLEDGE RELATING TO FGM 47 LAWS RELATING TO FGM 50 STRATEGIES TO END FGM AND ORGANISATIONAL PROFILES 53 CHALLENGES FACED BY ANTI-FGM INITIATIVES 61 CONCLUSIONS 63 APPENDIX I – LIST OF INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL ORGANISATIONS CONTRIBUTING TO WOMEN’S AND CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN NIGERIA 67 APPENDIX II – PROFILE OF GENDER & GBV-RELATED LAWS/BILLS ACROSS STATES 68 APPENDIX III – REFERENCES 71 2 | P a g e As we publish our 11th Country Profile on FGM, FOREWORD there are, however, many reasons to be hopeful for the future in Nigeria. The new Violence Against Since 2010, when I had the privilege of Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP), which was volunteering with FORWARD in northern Nigeria, I introduced in 2015, bans practices such as FGM have keenly watched both the setbacks and and is therefore a significant step in the right opportunities that women and girls face daily direction. We welcome its introduction. It is now throughout the country. Many of the challenges I essential that this federal law be adopted and saw during my time working in a fistula enforced across all states in Nigeria, to achieve its rehabilitation clinic still remain, including limited full impact. I am delighted that Her Excellency access in many rural areas to quality education and Aisha Buhari, the First Lady of Nigeria has taken up health facilities, with consequent high infant- and the campaign to end FGM. We look forward to maternal-mortality rates. As reported by Girl increased efforts across all government levels in Effect (undated), ‘Nigeria has two per cent of the Nigeria, including the involvement of key world’s population, but it carries 10 per cent of the traditional and religious leaders wherever possible. maternal mortality burden’. The country is also Throughout our research, I have also been still deeply affected by the kidnapping of over 200 heartened by the increasing determination of so schoolgirls from Chibok in the northern state of many NGOs working at all levels to tackle the issue Borno in 2014, and the continuing practices of child of FGM in Nigeria. The case study on page 10 marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) outlines the work of a local NGO, Society for the remain very real challenges across many states. Improvement of Rural People (SIRP), whose While the FGM prevalence in Nigeria is by no structured and measured approach to means the highest in the region, at 24.8% among programming is to be applauded. I have also been women aged 15 to 49 (DHS 2013, p.348), it is most interested to see how the increasing use of globally significant in representing some 20 million media, and in particular the rising popularity of women and girls who have been cut or are at risk social media among young people in Nigeria, is of being cut (UNICEF, 2013 & 2016). offering us new opportunities to educate and advocate for an end to FGM. To this end, the work now being done in Nigeria by our colleagues in the Girl Generation and The Guardian’s Global Media Campaign to End FGM (GGMC) is both encouraging and inspiring for us all. By forging partnerships at a local level, as demonstrated by the GGMC’s work with local activists from NGO The Center for Social Value and Early Childhood Development (CESVED), we can begin to see what is really working in terms of programming. 28 Too Many therefore looks forward to continuing our work beyond this report to support and partner with all those who wish to see an end to FGM in Nigeria. Fig. 1: Graduation following training in Kano State, Dr Ann-Marie Wilson Nigeria, 2010 (© Dr Ann-Marie Wilson) 28 Too Many Executive Director 3 | P a g e BACKGROUND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 28 Too Many is an anti-FGM charity, created to end 28 Too Many would like to thank Christof Walter FGM in the 28 African countries where it is Associates for their generous sponsorship of this practised and in other countries across the world Country Profile (www.christofwalter.com). where members of those communities have 28 Too Many is extremely grateful to everyone who migrated. Founded in 2010 and registered as a has assisted us in accessing information to produce charity in 2012, 28 Too Many aims to provide a this Country Profile, including community groups, strategic framework where knowledge and tools local non-governmental organisations (NGOs), enable in-country anti-FGM campaigners and community-based organisations (CBOs), faith-based organisations to be successful and make a organisations (FBOs) and international organisations. sustainable change to end FGM. We are building We thank them, as it would not have been possible an information base, which includes detailed without their assistance and collaboration. Country Profiles for each country practising FGM in Africa and the diaspora. Our objective is to 28 Too Many carries out all its work as a result of develop networks of anti-FGM organisations, to donations, and is an independent, objective voice share knowledge, skills and resources. We also unaffiliated with any government or large campaign and advocate locally and internationally organisation. That said, we are grateful to the many to bring change and support community organisations that have supported us so far on our programmes to end FGM. journey and the donations that enabled this Country Profile to be produced. PURPOSE For more information, please contact us on [email protected]. The prime purpose of this Country Profile is to improve understanding of the issues relating to FGM in the wider framework of gender equality THE TEAM and social change. By collating the research to Clarissa Allen is a research volunteer. She has a date, this Country Profile can act as a benchmark law degree from McGill University and is currently to reflect the current situation. As organisations completing a clerkship at the Federal Court of continue to send us their findings, reports, tools Canada. and models of change, we can update these reports and show where progress is being made. Tichafara Chisaka is a research volunteer. She has an MA in International Relations with International While there are numerous challenges to overcome Law. She is a project manager with experience in before FGM is eradicated in Nigeria, many both the business and charity sectors. programmes are making positive, active change. Amy Hurn is research project manager. She has an USE OF THIS COUNTRY PROFILE MSc in Transport Planning and Management. She has worked in consultancy and in the education Extracts from this publication may be freely sector. reproduced, provided that due acknowledgement Danica Issell is lead editor. She has a BA (Hons) is given to the source and 28 Too Many. We invite English & Creative Writing and Media & Cultural comments on the content and suggestions on how Studies and previously worked as a legal secretary. the report could be improved as an information tool, and seek updates on the data and contact Emma Lightowlers is a research volunteer. She is studying for a Masters in Global Health and has a details. background in research and communication. When referencing this report, please use: 28 Too Juliet Little is a research volunteer. She has an Many (2016) Country Profile: FGM in Nigeria. MSc in Business Analysis. She has worked for Available at http://www.28toomany.org/countries/ international development NGOs and in project Nigeria/. management in the public sector. 4 | P a g e Esther Njenga is Africa coordinator. She has an MA FBO faith-based organisation in Understanding and Securing Human Rights and FCT Federal Capital Territory is a qualified solicitor. FGC female genital cutting FGM female genital mutilation Rose Okoye is a research volunteer. She has an GBV gender-based violence LLM in Public International Law and is currently GDI Gender Development Index working within the prison service. GDP gross domestic product Caroline Pinder is research coordinator. She has GII Gender Inequality Index worked as an international development HDI Human Development Index consultant for 25 years, specialising in gender HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus equality and women’s empowerment issues. HTP harmful traditional practice IAC Inter-African Committee Dr Ann-Marie Wilson founded 28 Too Many and is IDPs internally displaced persons the executive director. She has also written ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political various papers on FGM and has worked extensively Rights in Africa. ICESR International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Nigerian Reading Team: Wumi Asubiaro-Dada, INEC The Independent National Electoral Titilope Fakoya, Chibogu Obinwa and Ngukwase Commission Surma. INGO international non-governmental We are grateful to the rest of the 28 Too Many organisation team who have helped in so many ways, including MDGs Millennium Development Goals Sean Callaghan and Louise Robertson. Mark MICS Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey Smith creates the custom maps used in 28 Too NBS National Bureau of Statistics Many’s country profiles. Thanks also go to NGO non-governmental organisation Malcolm Crawford for volunteering his time as PPP purchasing power parity proof reader. PTSD post-traumatic stress disorder SDGs Sustainable Development Goals Photograph on front cover: 2015-2030 Lodge, Rosemary (2009) Girl in Selby, Gashaka SGBV sexual and gender-based violence Gumti National Park, Nigeria [cropped].