UPR Sexual Rights Database

National Report:
Pg 12) In progress:
-Awareness campaigns on FGM and the practice of Wahaya;
- Awareness-building and training on Wahaya and other similar practices for magistrates, FDS and traditional leaders, provided by the ANLTP
- Study conducted on Wahaya and awareness-building on this practice provided to target groups;
- 2 conferences on Wahaya held in 2014.
- 11,316 messages broadcast on radio and TV regarding the ban on FGM and early and/or forced marriages;

Pg 19) - Articles 232.1-232.3 of the Criminal Code define and penalize FGM
- Appeal to traditional and religious leaders in Téra and Say (the areas most affected) on the subjects of reproductive health, FGM and human rights;
- Awareness campaigns with a view to the retraining of circumcisers;
- Training for community radio hosts in Téra and Say on the subjects of reproductive health, FGM and human rights.
- 279 prosecutions against perpetrators of abuse and other reported acts of violence in 2014;
- In 2011, a circumciser was convicted for having circumcised seven girls between the ages of 23 days and 2 years;
- Awareness-building among 222 adolescents between the ages of 10 and 14, school attenders and non-school attenders, in 17 villages in Say and 20 villages in Téra, on the issues of reproductive health, FGM and human rights;
- Awareness-building among 64 traditional and religious leaders on the issue of FGM.

Pg 24) Awareness and educational campaigns for men and women in order to eliminate FGM and harmful practices.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 17) NHRC and CODDHD noted efforts to prohibit harmful traditional practices against women and children - notably female genital mutilation (FGM) - through awareness-raising activities, which had achieved positive results in some areas. CODDHD referred in particular to the case of the Makodolindi community, which had issued a public statement announcing its decision to abandon excision. Nonetheless, CODDHD considered that further efforts were required. WV expressed regret that, despite the enactment by the Government of Act No. 2003-25 condemning harmful practices, FGM remained a widespread practice in the Gurma, Peulh and Arab communities and the regions of Tillabéry, Diffa and Niamey.

National Report:
Para 49) … Schools for the girl-child under construction are almost 90% completed.

UN Compilation:
Para 62) CEDAW noted with concern that many women and girls in north-east Nigeria had dropped out of school owing to the Boko Haram insurgency.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 74) … JS16 stated that Nigeria had not given any attention to the education of girls in remote parts of the country.

National Report:
Para 60) Since the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Women and Social Development and its equivalents in the States, efforts have been made to consolidate and strengthen policies and programmes which will eliminate violence against women and provide support for victims. A product of these efforts is the Violence Against Persons Bill being considered in the National Assembly.

Para 62) Under section 46 (1) of the Constitution, women who are victims of violence and discrimination may apply to a High Court for redress by way of fundamental rights enforcement proceedings in the event of the application of any law that allows violence and discrimination against them. Nigerian courts have on several occasions declared null and void all laws and customs that are not in the spirit of the Constitution in this regard.

Para 64) The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development is engaged in continuous advocacy to legislators, policy makers and other stakeholders on the imperative to pass the CEDAW bill currently pending before the National Assembly. Government has taken necessary steps also to engage traditional and religious leaders on the importance of eradicating negative cultural practices from their communities. Some States of the federation have passed laws eradicating some of these practices, including Female Genital Mutilation and harmful widowhood rights.

Para 65) Various actions are being taken, including strengthening of laws and policies as well as their implementation, strengthening of human resources and police institutional reforms to eradicate negative cultural practices at the Federal and state levels.

Para 66) Nigeria in its efforts to improve the rights of women and ensuring that all administrative and policy bottlenecks that hinder women from exercising their rights as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other international instruments of human rights, adopted a Gender Policy by approving the establishment of Gender Desks in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government with a view to mainstreaming gender issues in all their activities.

Para 67) The National Orientation Agency organizes sensitization programmes for the public on the harmful effects of traditional practices against women, especially widows. Government will continue to intensify efforts to raise awareness as well as disseminate information on the value of human rights among traditional and religious leaders in order to curb negative traditional practices.

Para 73) ... The Akwa Ibom State Government has passed a law abolishing the stigmatization of any child in Akwa Ibom State as a witch: following this, several people found violating this law have been arrested.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 53) JS 2 stated that while there was no legislation at the federal level prohibiting female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM), a number of states have adopted legislation in this regard. However, enforcement of this legislation has been a challenge.