Protection monitoring register and handling of an allegation

By type (n = 18): extortion 6 (33%), arbitrary arrest 3 (17%), abduction 3 (17%), GBV 2 (11%), physical violence, sexual exploitation, child recruitment and destruction of property 1 each (6%). By commune: Diffa 8 (44%), Chétimari 5 (28%), N'Guigmi 5 (28%). By perpetrator: non-state armed groups 5, unidentified armed men 5, defence and security forces 4, others 4 (unknown, husband, humanitarian agent, neighbour).

Trends: (1) the 3 abductions and the child recruitment are in N'Guigmi, all attributed to a non-state armed group, including a 16-year-old girl; (2) the 3 arbitrary arrests are in Chétimari, by the security forces, including a 17-year-old minor; (3) extortion is the most frequent incident (6), mainly in Diffa (4 out of 6), with one attributed to the security forces (Chétimari).

Limitations: very small numbers, no interpretable monthly variation (6, 7 and 5 incidents); the data reflect the presence of the monitors and the trust of communities, not prevalence; GBV is heavily under-reported and must not be analysed on the basis of this register.

• Identifying data: name, site and precise location of a survivor (no. 4); unprotected register shared on WhatsApp with community focal points. Measures: codes instead of names, no GBV details in the monitoring register, password-protected file, access limited to staff who need it, sharing of aggregated data only.
• No. 10: sexual exploitation of a minor by a humanitarian worker: this is an SEA allegation to be reported immediately through the PSEA channel, not a simple register entry; consent not requested.
• No. 13: referral to the police without the family's agreement, for a 14-year-old girl: contrary to the survivor-centred approach and to the best interests of the child, unless there is a legal obligation assessed with the supervisor; risk of reprisals.
• No. 6: intimate partner violence classified as "physical violence" without referral: this is GBV, to be referred (with consent) to GBV services.
• Nos. 7 and 16: minors (abduction, detention) without referral to child protection.

Steps: (1) make sure the girl is safe and that her immediate needs are met (medical care, psychosocial support) by referring her, with her agreement and in her best interests, to GBV and child protection services; (2) do not investigate yourself, do not interview the survivor again, do not contact or confront the agent; (3) notify your organisation's PSEA focal point without delay, within the deadline set by the internal policy, who passes it on to the partner organisation according to the protocol in place; (4) limit the information to those who need to know; (5) remove the observation from the register and keep it in a confidential file.

Content of the notification: survivor code (no name), age and sex; date, place and facts as reported, in the person's own words; available information on the alleged perpetrator (position, organisation, identifying features); date and channel of the report; assistance already provided; risks of reprisals; contact details of the person notifying. Do not include opinions on credibility or assumptions.

(a) "Thank you for your concern for these women. We cannot share a list: being identified may expose them to stigma or reprisals, and they have not given us their consent. Instead, we propose organising an information session open to all women on the site about the services available (health, listening support, material assistance), and improving the lighting near the well. Anyone who wishes can contact us in complete confidence."

(b) "From July to September, 18 incidents were documented by our monitors in the communes of Diffa, Chétimari and N'Guigmi. Extortion is the most frequently reported type (6), mainly in Diffa. The three abductions and one case of child recruitment are concentrated in N'Guigmi. The three arbitrary arrests took place in Chétimari, one of them involving a minor. These figures depend on monitoring coverage and do not allow any trend over time to be measured. We recommend advocacy on the detention of minors and stronger referral to child protection."