Sex for survival: Terrorism, poverty and sexual violence in north-eastern Nigeria

Abstract

This study advances the discourse on factors behind conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). Focusing on terrorism-affected northeastern Nigeria, it argues that terrorism creates poor economic conditions that compel women and girls to engage in transactional sex in exchange for money, food, shelter, protection, and marriage, despite the risks of socio-legal persecutions. This further intensifies the vulnerability of women and girls to sexual violation by security force personnel and aid workers who may exploit their positions of relative power. Furthermore, the lax government response to the rise of CRSV, partly arising from this trade in sex, has contributed to its growth. Thus, this study builds on the debate regarding the motivations behind CRSV. It advances the sex economy framework building on Elisabeth Wood's discussion of the 'toleration' of sexual violence. This pattern of CRSV also has implications for the state's capacity to access intelligence for the purpose of curbing terrorism.

Gendering Counter-Terrorism: Kunya and the Silencing of Male Victims of CRSV in Northeastern Nigeria

“…It is important to note that this study does not claim that there were no male rapes before 2009, when terrorists began their campaign of violence in Nigeria and the Lake Chad region. It does, however, argue that the precarious nature of the area as a result of terrorism, government response, and religious reforms has led to an increase in sexual violence by men in the community, aid workers, terrorists, and security agents against kidnapped women, girls, men, and boys alike (Njoku 2019;Njoku & Akintayo 2021;Njoku & Dery 2021;Njoku 2022). Since 2009, reports from NGOs have indicated an increase in sexual violence against both males and females, which has been dubbed a "rape epidemic" (Amnesty International 2021).…”

Cirebon Regency’s National Commission for Child Protection’s role in handling sexual violence against children

“…The criminology theory that is relevant to the research on the increase in child sexual violence is the Social Control Theory where this theory emphasizes the importance of social norms and institutions in controlling criminal behavior that occurs (Costello & Laub, 2020;Kempf, 2023;Uggen et al, 2021). The likelihood of sexual violence against children can be raised by lax law enforcement that has no deterrent effect and lax societal norms that tolerate child sexual violence (Barker, 2020;Bourke, 2022;Long, 2023;Ngo, 2021;Njoku & Akintayo, 2021;Simanjuntak & Tampubolon, 2023). In addition to using Social Control Theory, the author also uses Law Enforcement Theory preventively where efforts are in crime prevention or before the crime occurs.…”