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Nigeria: Prevalence of forced marriage among Christians in urban areas in Edo State

Information on the prevalence of forced marriage among Christians in the urban areas of Edo State [southern Nigeria] could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate; however, the following information may be of interest.

Forced marriage is said to be "especially common" in the north of Nigeria (Denmark Jan. 2005, 27; AFP 18 Oct. 2007; Makinwa-Adebusoye Oct. 2006, 16). However, cited in a joint British-Danish fact-finding mission report, BAOBAB for Women's Human Rights indicates that they had received reports of many young women escaping forced marriages in both the northern and southern parts of the country (Denmark Jan. 2005, 27). Northern Nigeria is predominantly Muslim, while southern Nigeria is mainly Christian (CSIS March 2002, 1; Reuters 29 Nov. 2008).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Agence France-Presse (AFP). 18 October 2007. "Sharia Application Causes Injustice in Nigeria: HRW." (Factiva)

Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). March 2002. John Paden. "Islam and Democratic Federalism in Nigeria." <http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/anotes_0203.pdf> [Accessed 16 Dec. 2008]

Denmark. January 2005. Danish Immigration Service. Report on Human Rights Issues in Nigeria: Joint British-Danish Fact-Finding Mission to Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria. 19 October to 2 November 2004. <http://www.nyidanmark.dk/NR/rdonlyres/A12BB34C-56F3-4745-9977-E6332D1DAAC0/0/Nigeria2005_web2.pdf> [Accessed 16 Dec. 2008]

Makinwa-Adebusoye, Paulina. October 2006. Hidden: A Profile of Married Adolescents in Northern Nigeria. (Action Health Incorporated) <http://www.actionhealthinc.org/publications/downloads/hidden.pdf> [Accessed 16 Dec. 2008]

Reuters. 29 November 2008. Shuaibu Mohammed. "Hundreds Killed in Muslim-Christian Clashes in Nigeria." <http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LT575781.htm> [Accessed 16 Dec. 2008]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: The Edo State Women's Association (ESWA), BAOBAB for Women's Human Rights, Rufarm and WomenAid Collective (WACOL) Nigeria did not provide information within the time constraints of this Response. Attempts to contact Women's Health and Action Research Centre (WHARC) based in Benin City, Edo State, were unsuccessful.

Internet sites, including: AllAfrica, Amnesty International (AI), Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID), Asylum Aid, BAOBAB for Women's Human Rights, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Edofolks.com, Edo-nation.net, Edo State Government, Edo State Women's Association (ESWA), Edowomen.org, European Country of Origin Information Network (ecoi.net), Factiva, Heinrich Boëll Stifftung Nigeria, Human Rights Watch (HRW), Norway – LandInfo, Onlinenigeria.com, Rufarm, United Kingdom Home Office, United Nations Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), United States Department of State, WomenAid Collective (WACOL) Nigeria, Women's Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON).