FG, experts urge survivor-centred reparations for Boko Haram sexual violence victims

The development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) has launched a report which amplifies the voices of survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV), revealing urgent humanitarian, economic, and justice needs that remain largely unmet years after Boko Haram–related abuses. The report—Status of and Opportunities for Reparations for Survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence—is one of the most […]

The development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) has launched a report which amplifies the voices of survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV), revealing urgent humanitarian, economic, and justice needs that remain largely unmet years after Boko Haram–related abuses.

The report—Status of and Opportunities for Reparations for Survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence—is one of the most comprehensive assessments to date on reparations for CRSV survivors in Nigeria. It identifies major gaps in state and non-state support systems and outlines a roadmap for survivor-centred reparations.

Conducted by dRPC in partnership with Explore Aid, the Grassroots Researchers Association (GRA), and Global Survivors Fund (GSF), the research draws on in-depth interviews with 82 survivors from Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe (BAY) states. The interviews were held in Maiduguri between 10 and 14 October 2023 with support from mental-health specialists to ensure safe and ethical engagement.

Speaking at the launch in Abuja on Tuesday, government officials, researchers, and civil society leaders called for urgent, survivor-centred reparations for victims of CRSV perpetrated by Boko Haram.

Dr. Salma Anas Ibrahim, Special Adviser to the President on Health and dRPC board member, said the findings represent a decade-long effort to document the lived realities of survivors and identify practical pathways for justice.

“This study provides an in-depth analysis of survivors’ perceptions and expectations of reparations. It offers context-specific recommendations that can guide policymakers in designing survivor-centred programmes in Nigeria,” she said.

She noted that the launch goes beyond presenting research. “Today’s event is a platform to advocate for policy action, mobilise support and promote reforms that advance justice for CRSV survivors. As a woman and an indigene of the Northeast, this research holds personal significance for me,” she added.

Delivering the welcome address on behalf of survivor leaders, Fadimatu Buba Saleh, National Coordinator of the Women and Children Conflict Survivors Foundation (WCCSF), said survivors participated in the research to ensure their voices shape decision-making.

“We stand here not as victims to be spoken for, but as people who have lived through conflict and are ready to shape the decisions that affect us,” she said.

She emphasised that reparations must be viewed as a right, not charity.

“Reparations are not charity, but justice that is owed. We hope this launch marks the beginning of concrete action that responds to our priorities and supports our healing,” she said.

The Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Professor Ayo Omotayo, commended dRPC for producing evidence that can guide national policy on post-conflict recovery.

“Reparations must be more than symbolic gestures. They must include healthcare, psychosocial support, legal assistance, education, livelihood opportunities and community reintegration,” he said. Omotayo added that NIPSS is ready to work with government institutions to turn the recommendations into “actionable policy options that restore dignity, agency and hope” to survivors.

Representing the Global Survivors Fund (GSF), Ms. Naitore Nyamu, Regional Coordinator for Africa, said the study reflects a survivor-led approach aligned with the Fund’s global mandate.

“Survivors have been at the centre of developing this study. These are their words, their testimonies—precious and important,” she said. Stressing the urgency of action, she noted that survivors continue to face stigma, especially those raising children born of rape. “Years on, their hope dwindles and solidarity wears off due to inaction. The unmet needs of thousands of survivors must not fall on deaf ears,” she added.

Nyamu reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to supporting Nigeria. “Reparations are possible, reparations are feasible, and reparations are affordable. Survivors have a right to reparations,” she added.