Conflict Related Sexual Violence: Exploring Humanitarian Law and Sexual Violence on Women in the Boko Haram Mayhem

Abstract

This paper examined the applicability of international humanitarian law to conflict-related sexual violence in areas of northeast Nigeria experiencing armed conflicts with Boko haram insurgents. It discussed the history of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), examined the legal framework for protection against sexual violence in armed conflicts, identified the challenges in prosecuting conflict related sexual violence in Nigeria, and proffered solutions towards tackling the menace of conflict related sexual violence in Nigeria. This paper revealed that in spite of International legal framework prohibiting the act of rape and other forms of sexual violence in armed conflict, this brutality persists, particularly against the girl child and women, in areas of armed conflict in Nigeria. It is found that in Nigeria, acts of conflict-related sexual violence cannot be prosecuted because the international treaties recognizing and criminalizing conflict-related sexual violence have not been domesticated into our laws and there are no domestic legislations on conflict-related sexual violence.  The paper recommended that the relevant international treaties should be domesticated and our domestic laws be reviewed to criminalize conflict-related sexual violence for effective