Nigeria has one of the highest absolute numbers of women and girls who have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) globally, with significant variation by state and ethnic group. While FGM is prohibited under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015 (VAPP Act), enforcement is inconsistent and state protection is generally inadequate in areas where FGM is practised.
Expert witnesses provide community-specific and state-specific analysis of FGM risk and state protection availability. In daughter-at-risk claims, the expert assesses prevalence in the specific ethnic group and state, whether the extended family has indicated intent, whether state protection is realistically available, and whether internal relocation would provide sufficient protection.
Gender-based violence intersects with trafficking claims, forced marriage, and honour-based violence in Nigeria. The updated FGM CPIN confirms inconsistent enforcement of the prohibition. Expert reports address intersectionality with other protection grounds and provide the granular, locality-specific analysis tribunals require under Immigration Tribunal Practice Direction paragraph 10.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How prevalent is FGM in Nigeria and what is the state's response?
Nigeria has one of the highest absolute numbers of women and girls who have undergone FGM globally, with significant variation by state and ethnic group. While FGM is prohibited under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015, enforcement is inconsistent and state protection is generally inadequate in areas where FGM is practised. Expert witnesses provide community-specific, state-specific analysis of risk and state protection availability.
What evidence does an expert provide in a daughter-at-risk FGM case?
In cases where a mother fears FGM for her daughter, the expert assesses prevalence of FGM in the specific ethnic group and state, whether the extended family has indicated intent, whether state protection is realistically available, and whether internal relocation would provide sufficient protection.