Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Mariam Ileyemi
Published on 2024-02-26 19:04:11
Women’s groups and representatives of civil society organizations, led by the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), are calling on the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to reinstate the suspended guidelines on safe termination of pregnancy. These guidelines are crucial to provide a legal framework for terminating pregnancies in cases of incest, rape, and sexual and gender-based violence. The groups stress that there has been a significant increase in the number of rape and incest cases resulting in unwanted pregnancies, particularly among children, who are unable to access safe abortion services under current laws.
The Lagos State Government suspended the guideline one week after its launch due to public criticism. The 40-page policy document titled “Lagos State Guidelines on Safe Termination of Pregnancy for Legal Indications” was developed to align with existing laws and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, Section 38, in support of victims of rape and sexual violence. However, the suspension of the guidelines has raised concerns among women’s rights advocates and health experts.
According to data presented by WARDC, unsafe abortion accounts for 10% of the global maternal death rate in Nigeria and is the second leading cause of maternal mortality in the country. Recognizing the impact of unsafe abortions on women’s health and lives, WARDC is urging the government to prioritize women’s reproductive rights and access to safe abortion care.
WARDC’s Founding Director, Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, emphasizes that the guidelines were designed to prevent preventable deaths among women and girls. Despite opposition based on religious, cultural, and philosophical beliefs, she argues that denying safe abortion care to rape survivors violates their rights to health, privacy, and freedom from ill-treatment. As a signatory to the Maputo Protocol, Nigeria is obligated to protect reproductive rights and authorize medical abortion in specific cases such as rape and incest.
In response to the suspension of the guidelines, WARDC launched an online petition titled “Save Women from Dying in Nigeria” directed at Governor Sanwo-Olu, garnering approximately 300 signatures. The organization is also collaborating with other stakeholders to demand the reinstatement of the guidelines and ensure that healthcare workers are trained to provide services in line with the law.
Highlighting the importance of the guidelines for safe abortions, the General Secretary of the Society Of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON), Kehinde Okunade, stresses the need to prevent women from dying due to unsafe abortions. SOGON, in partnership with other organizations, is advocating for the reinstatement of the guidelines and efforts to address social barriers that hinder access to safe abortion care in Lagos State.
In conclusion, the efforts of women’s groups, civil society organizations, and health experts to reinstate the suspended guidelines on safe termination of pregnancy reflect the urgent need to protect women’s reproductive rights and prevent unnecessary maternal deaths in Nigeria. By advocating for evidence-based policies and expanding access to safe abortion services, these stakeholders are working towards a future where women have the freedom to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health.
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