According to existing figures on female genital mutilation (FGM) in Niger, the national prevalence rate has declined from 5% in 1998 to 2.2% in 2006, 2% in 2012 and 0.7% in 2021.
The 2012 Demography and Health Study (DHS) shows that the majority of respondents had part of their external female genitalia removed during the procedure (incision with tissue removal). A much smaller proportion underwent a “lighter” form of circumcision (incision without tissue removal). The proportion of women whose vaginal opening was closed was 6%. In almost all cases, the procedure was performed by a traditional circumciser or doctor (96%). The NGO Comité nigérien sur les pratiques traditionnelles (CONIPRAT) also mentions non-classical procedures such as stretching the clitoris and/or labia, burning the clitoris and surrounding tissues, perforation or incision of the clitoris, and inserting plants into the vagina to narrow it, known locally as Dangouria in Hausa, Habizé in Zarma and Tamari in Kanuri.
Successive surveys have shown that the vast majority of circumcised women are cut by traditional circumcisers.
Sources indicate that due to the low prevalence of FGM in Niger, relatively few female respondents in the successive surveys had undergone female circumcision. The sources point out that caution is required when analysing detailed distributions by region, ethnicity, education, economic class, etc. FGM is in most cases performed at a young age, before the age of five. Prevalence rates vary by region: in the Tillabéri region, for example, the percentage of circumcised women exceeds the national average. In remote regions and areas along the country's borders, knowledge and enforcement of anti-FGM legislation is weak, making girls more vulnerable to the practice.
Motives for FGM often stem from cultural, social or religious rules. Successive surveys show that support for female circumcision in Niger is declining.
Articles 232 and 233 of the Penal Code criminalise all forms of FGM. In practice, however, these articles are rarely enforced.
The government has spoken out against FGM. The Ministry for the Promotion of Women and Child Protection (ministère de la Promotion de la Femme et de la Protection de l’Enfant) is the government department responsible for coordinating efforts to eliminate FGM in Niger. It supports CONIPRAT in leading the national approach.
CONIPRAT implements various initiatives in the fight against female circumcision, such as awareness campaigns and support programmes for victims. Other organisations working to protect against FGM include the NGOs Santé de la reproduction pour une maternité sans risque (SRMSR) DIMOL, the Association des jeunes filles pour la santé de la reproduction (AJFSR), the Ligue nigérienne des droits des femmes (LNDF) and the Cellule nigérienne des jeunes filles leaders (CNJFL).
Policy
The policy implemented by the Commissioner General is based on a thorough analysis of accurate and up-to-date information on the general situation in the country of origin. This information is collated in a professional manner from various, objective sources, including the EUAA, the UNHCR, relevant international human rights organisations, non-governmental organisations, professional literature and coverage in the media. When determining policy, the Commissioner General does not only examine the COI Focuses written by Cedoca and published on this website, as these deal with just one aspect of the general situation in the country of origin. The fact that a COI Focus could be out-of-date does not mean that the policy that is being implemented by the Commissioner General is no longer up-to-date.
When assessing an application for asylum, the Commissioner General not only considers the actual situation in the country of origin at the moment of decision-making, he also takes into account the individual situation and personal circumstances of the applicant for international protection. Every asylum application is examined individually. An applicant must comprehensively demonstrate that he has a well-founded fear of persecution or that there is a clear personal risk of serious harm. He cannot, therefore, simply refer back to the general conditions in his country, but must also present concrete, credible and personal facts.
There is no policy paper for this country available on the website.