Translated by Celeste Valentini
They are abandoned, hungry and abuse victims: women that ran away from the Boko Haram terrorists were raped by the same soldiers that saved them.
A year passed since the defensive campaign for the victims that survived to the atrocities of Boko Haram and to the abuses of the soldiers of the North-East of Nigeria was launched. Thanks to this campaign, many of these women asked for justice, protection and for concrete measures that could help them rebuild their lives.
However, today, these young women complain about how the government doesn’t help their reintegration into society. Moreover, many of them denounce their job insecurity and the lack of resources to see to their families.
What’s Boko Haram?
“Boko Haram” literally means “the education of West is a sin” and refers to the extremist Islamic movement that operates in the North-East of Nigeria.
It was founded in 2002 by the imām of the mosque in Maiduguri to oppose to the corruption of the Western culture and to promote the sharī‛a (the sacred law of Islam) as an instrument of social equity.
The murder of the preacher Ja’afar – a religious and politic figure known for his criticism towards Boko Haram – marks the breakdown between the institutions and the movement: Boko Haram becomes a terrorist organization.
The brutality of “liberators
After being removed from the control of Boko Haram, the Nigerian army transferred a lot of women and children to satellite camps. These camps were born to protect them, but soon they became places of isolation and violence.
The former manager of Amnesty International Nigeria, Osai Ojigho, declared:
““It’s shocking how people who suffered a lot because of Boko Haram became victims of the army and their tremendous abuses, too. Instead of being protected, women and young girls are forced to endure rape to avoid hunger.”
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Ordinary women, who are overwhelmed with war and forgotten by everyone.
The victims of Boko Haram are women from different contexts:
- Young students - in particular from high school - who are symbols of women’s emancipation;
- Christian women and young girls, often kidnapped for religious reasons;
- Moderate Muslim women, seen as non-conforming to the group extremist ideology;
- Widows or opponents’ wives, kidnapped to punish them;
- Poor women, without government protection and easily subjugable.
After being released, many of these women suffer from discrimination inside their own communities. They are seen as “accomplices” of the terrorists or as “shame” bearers, in particular if they got pregnant with Boko Haram babies.
Justice for the survivors of Boko Haram
Many women starved into the satellite camps, while who survived decided to found the Knifar Movement to ask for justice and protection against their rapists.
Even Amensty Internation launched the campaign #EmpowerOurGirls
to make the victims visible again and claim their future.
But twelve months passed since the launch of this campaign and since the report with the young victims requests of help was published and the government hasn’t guaranteed their reintegration, yet.
The manager of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, declared:
““When a woman manages to escape from Boko Haram, she should be able to start her reintegration process into the society. But, in most cases, they remain unseen by the governmental authorities, who should make it possible for them to have access to health care, education and means of subsistence.”
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In accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Nigeria must take the necessary measures to promote the physical and psychological recovery of minors who are victims of armed conflicts. In the same way, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child establishes the duty of protecting women from forced marriages.
Nevertheless, among these women none got information on reintegration journeys, sustenance or professional education.
A unanimous complaint
Since 2015, the sexual abuses and deaths that occurred into the satellite camps have been denounced by several non-governmental organizations.
Nevertheless, the government didn’t take a step forward, yet.
As Ojigho said:
““The Nigerian authorities have to open investigations - or make public the results of the ones already opened – into war crimes and crimes against humanity that took place in the North-East of the Country. They have to guarantee food to people inside the “satellite camps” and the release of those who have been arrested wantonly.”
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Therefore, as long as these women don’t receive the right instruments to rebuild their lives, talking about rights and protection will remain theoretical. There is still some way to go, but the indifference of institutions makes it more tortuous.
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