Advocacy for Women with Disabilities Initiative (AWWDI), WE LEAD have called on the media to engage duty bearers on issues of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights ( SRHR) inclusion.
The group in a press statement signed by Roseline Migbole, National Public Relation Officer, AWWDI titled “Inclusion of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights of Women and Girls With Disabilities is a must” stated that even though there is global attention towards SRHR through the United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disabilites (UNCRPD) which stipulated that that governance should guarantee access to SRHR by persons with disabilites, persons with disabilites are still denied access to health care services especially Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare.
It is due to stigma and discrimination which is in violation of fundamental human rights of persons with disabilites.
The violation is unacceptable because persons with disabilites especially Women and Girls With Disabilites (WGWDs) have rights to SRHR like others.
“SRHR us crucial for WGWDs, it gives them the opportunity to make informed choices about their bodies which includes access to information about contraception, family planning, Pre-natal care, Post-natal care, self delivery and also access to treat sexual transmitted infections”.
“SRHR are human rights and they are crucial for ensuring the health and wellbeing of WGWDs”.
In this press statement to kick start capacity building for Organizations of Persons With Disabilites ( OPDs) in north central zone on Sexual And Reproductive Health Rights of Women and Girls With Disabilites which took place in Abuja on Thursday 6th April 2023 is being supported HIVOS and WE Lead.
The project designed to advocate for an inclusive sexual and reproductive health rights of WGWDs in three geopolitical zones of Nigeria (Lagos-South West, Edo State-South South and FCT North Central).
The group urged the media to assist WGWDs enjoy these rights through the following:
- Join the advocacy
- Promote SRHR through their platforms
- Engage duty bearers on SRHR inclusion
- Make SRHR subject of discussion.
- Give voice to WGWDs on SRHR issues
