A non-profit organisation, IPAS has said that Nigeria is witnessing a rise in sexual violence, including rape and incest.
This is contained in a communique issued at the end of a three-day media training for journalists on Womens Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights and Global Gag Rule.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the media training held in Ibadan was sponsored by IPAS, an international organisation that focuses on expanding access to safe abortion and contraceptive care.
The communique signed by Country Director of IPAS, Mr Lucky Palmer, said that sexual violence is contributing to incidences of unwanted pregnancies, especially among adolescents in the country.
The document stated that unwanted pregnancies have resulted to people seeking unsafe abortion procedure, which is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality in the country.
According to the communique, although the Nigerian government has signed and ratified many international and regional legal instruments that protect the sexual rights and human rights of women.
It said that many NGOs, working to promote Womens Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights in the country, were unaware of the exceptions.
It stated that these NGOs do not provide abortion counselling, referrals in cases of rape, incest and when the womans life is endangered.
The communique further stated that the only legal document guiding abortion practice in the country is the 1861 Abortion Law of Nigeria, which does not take into consideration the realities of today and the issues arising thereof.
The communique then urged the Federal Government to domesticate all international and regional legal frameworks that promote Womens Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights.
