Women groups urge Lagos govt to lift ban on abortion guidelines

No fewer than 150 women groups have urged Lagos State Government to lift the suspension on safe termination of pregnancy and allow legal guidelines.

In a letter addressed to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and signed by Executive Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, the women groups stated that the guidelines would build capacity for medical professionals to save lives of pregnant women whose pregnancy continuation poses danger to their lives and physical health.

The letter reads in part: “Unfortunately, some religious, cultural and persons with certain philosophical convictions have kicked against the document that was developed over four years. Through painstaking work by experts in Law, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, it has created an opportunity to reduce maternal mortality in line with existing laws.

“The denial of safe abortion care to survivors of rape violates the right to health and privacy and may violate the prohibition of ill-treatment. Nigeria is bound by the provision of Maputo Protocol, which is the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa. It is the main legal instrument for protection of the rights of women and girls in Africa.”