COMMON ANALYSIS
Last updated: February 2019
Nigerian children that may be at particular risk in situations, such as the following:
■ Children involved in student cults: The phenomenon of student cults nowadays may also affect young primary or secondary school pupils [Targeting, 2.3.4]. See the profile Individuals targeted by student cults.
■ Children accused of being witches: Children are one of the profiles at particular risk of being accused of witchcraft. See the profile Individuals accused of witchcraft or threatened in relation to ritual killings.
■ Violence against children, including domestic violence and sexual violence: With regard to violence against girls, see the profile Women and girls. Violence also affects boys. For example, in the North East, boys may be kidnapped and recruited as child soldiers by Boko Haram. The assessment of well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of a ground under Article 10 QD should take into account the individual circumstances of the child.
■ FGM/C: FGM/C affects girls in various parts of Nigeria. See the profile Women and girls.
■ Child marriage: Despite the legal age of 18 years, child marriage occurs in Nigeria. See the profile Women and girls).
■Trafficking in human beings: Children are vulnerable to trafficking situations. They may be victims of trafficking themselves or be vulnerable as children of victims of trafficking. See the profile Victims of human trafficking, including forced prostitution.
Under the above mentioned profiles, being a child may generally be considered as an important risk-enhancing circumstance.