33 Countries of Origin’ Profiles

5 NIGERIA poverty and displacement, families tend to marry their girls as early as possible, so as to obtain the dowry and have fewer children to maintain 12 . GBV: Boko Haram militancy and counter-insurgency measures have generated chronic insecurity in the north-east, resulted in severe human rights violations, and increased the number of IDPs (internally displaced people). Over 1.8 million people have been internally displaced in the North East, 76% of which are in Borno State 13 . IDPs who have fled to areas previously controlled by Boko Haram are living in sites managed by the Nigerian military, where living conditions are poor and access to food, water, shelter, health care is limited. The lack of basic services in displacement sites has resulted in the sexual exploitation of women and girls, who trade sex for food or freedom to exit the camps. Sexual exploitation is often at the hand of site managers and men in a position of power. Harassment of women and girls is also common. IDP camp in Nigeria © Metronaija Numerous displaced women and girls have suffered sexual and gender-based violence when fleeing the armed conflict, and face stigma upon return to their communities . Women and girls released after being held captive by Boko Haram, suffered forced marriage, rape, sexual and physical violence. Among them, are ‘Boko Haram wives’ are often isolated and stigmatized for fear of them being radicalized. Children born out of sexual violence are at risk of abandonment and violence, and are often considered a threat to the community. Particularly in the north-east, women who have suffered sexual violence and exploitation are stigmatised and excluded. For this reason, few women come forward about abuse. The UNHCR reports that 1,581 households have women and girls who are survivors or at risk of SGBV (for a total of 1,821 reported separate incidents/threats). Of these, 1,149 households reported incidents of early/forced marriage, 216 households reported domestic 1 2 https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/sites/www.humanitarianresponse.info/files/assessments/gbv_swg _nigeria_vulnerability_screening_round03_nov_2016.pdf 13 Ibid.