S/2017/249 internally displaced persons and returnees; and to ensure that those responsible for such crimes are held accountable. Nigeria 89. Despite military gains made against Boko Haram, women and girls remain exposed to the risk of sexual violence and other crimes, including being used as suicide bombers. Efforts led by the Government to secure the release of the girls abducted from Chibok and others held in captivity continued in 2016. Hundreds managed to escape or were rescued, with many returning pregnant or with babies, some having contracted HIV. Their accounts corroborate information received about forced marriage, forced pregnancy and sexual slavery b y Boko Haram. Those living in Boko Haram-controlled areas who were compelled to marry insurgents face acute stigma and discrimination. Additional concerns have been raised when women and children released from Boko Haram are held for prolonged periods by t he national security forces for screening and detention, often on the grounds that they were married to fighters. Children born to abducted women and girls face ostracism and guilt by association. While religious and traditional leaders have become increasingly open to accepting these women and children, many displaced communities remain deeply distrustful of returnees. 90. Women and girls displaced by conflict face a serious risk of sexual violence. Approximately 90 per cent of those affected by conflict i n north-east Nigeria do not have access to basic services. As a result, women and girls have been forced to exchange sex for food and other essential supplies, and early marriages of girls to older men are on the rise, as an ostensible protection mechanism and source of income for desperate families. During the reporting period, 43 cases of sexual violence were allegedly perpetrated by security guards, army officers, camp officials, members of the Civilian Joint Task Force and vigilantes. In December 2016, nine officers were reportedly arrested and are currently standing trial. The Government has also deployed 100 female police officers to displacement sites to make services more accessible to women and girls. However, despite this progress, and the efforts made by the United Nations to strengthen service provision, access to lifesaving assistance is limited. Just 2 per cent of the survivors of gender -based violence that sought medical care were able to access it. Additionally, it is estimated that almost half of all survivors decline to report sexual violence because of a lack of trust in formal and informal justice systems, a prevailing culture of impunity, fear of stigma and personal risk. Recommendation 91. I urge the Nigerian authorities to ensure accountability for sexual violence crimes, improve service delivery and enhance protection measures both in communities and in settings where women and girls seek refuge. Socioeconomic reintegration support should be provided to women and girls returning fro m Boko Haram captivity, who should be considered victims, not affiliates. 17-05090 27/33