TWO organisations, Foundation for African Cultural Heritage, (FACH) and Project for Human Development. (PHD) have criticized the United Nations Population Fund, (UNFPA) headed by Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, for mounting fresh pressures on Nigeria to withdraw her reservations on ‘sexual and reproductive health’, including reproductive rights, contained in a new UN development agreement.

The groups accused UNFPA of campaigning to create an international right to abortion and expand or extend rights for minors.

However, earlier this month, the African Group, comprising 54 African countries, including Nigeria, registered their reservations at the UN to dispel the notion of an international right to abortion.

Director-General of PHD, Jerry Okwuosa, said the reservations require UN agencies to respect domestic laws, especially regarding parental consent for access to abortion and contraception by minors as well as laws relating to sexual orientation and gender identity.