Stakeholders Seek Access To Reproductive Justice For Women

By Ijeoma Thomas- Odia

AS Lagos ranks third with high rate of unsafe abortion, with Rivers and Kano coming first and second respectively, stakeholders championing women’s rights in Nigeria are seeking strategic litigation on unsafe abortion, and maternal health. The critical stakeholders including legal experts, healthcare professionals and Civil Society Organisations have also called for a lift on suspension on Legal Indications on Safe Abortion by the Lagos State government as rape and incest cases rises.

At a roundtable meeting organised by Women

Advocates Research and Documentation Centre ( WARDC) with support of the Center for Reproductive Rights ( CRR), in collaboration with Center for Human Rights, University of Lagos, issues around seeking accountability for reproductive justice was the core.

According to the Director, Center for Human Rights, University of Lagos, Dr. Abiola Akiyode- Afolabi, the maternal death across the world, Nigeria has 10 percent which is huge and Lagos stands as the state with the highest population. With the suspension of the safe abortion guideline, it has increased the number of death arising from access to safe abortion from cases of incest and rape, so we are seeking that the Lagos state governor lifts the suspension to enable health practitioners administer the right services to women who need them

For Director, WARDC, Mary George Peluola, she noted that with cases of incest happening where these vulnerable girls are made to give birth to the babies, with the right laws, and guidelines, they do not need to go through this trauma. “Our medical sector cannot grant these girls abortion because it Is considerd criminal and so with cirtical stakeholders present, we are seeking ways to ensure that more women and grils have access to their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.

Chief operations officer, Ceceyara Foundation, Bisi Ajayi Kayode stressed that sexual health should be a part of school curriculums so that more young girls and boys are better equipped on what to do when there is pregnancy. “And when there is pregnancy, they should know exactly where to go; there are primary healthcare centres with free counselling and with provision of rape kits. It is also important that people have the awareness of the mental health impact of not having access to sexual and reproductive health and rights.”