The Nigerian government has been urged to consider expanding and amending laws related to reproductive issues, with the aim of reducing maternal mortality rates in the country. This call was made by Barr. Bamidele Jacobs, Director Legal of Lawyers Alert, during a two-day refresher training for judicial correspondents on rights-based reporting and strategic communication in Abeokuta, Ogun state.
Jacobs emphasized that revising these laws to meet the needs of survivors and support safe healthcare would significantly lessen stigma, trauma, and aid in their reintegration into society. He cited the example of a rape victim being forced to carry a resulting pregnancy to term, highlighting the potential for long-term psychological harm. Jacobs stressed that while not advocating for unrestricted access to abortion, the law should be fair and consider cases of rape, incest, and pregnancy resulting from sexual assault.
Wemimo Adewumi, a media and communication expert trainer, also spoke at the event, emphasizing the importance of journalists adopting a rights-based approach to reporting, free from bias and sensationalism, particularly when covering sensitive topics like safe termination of pregnancy. She noted that Nigeria has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality due to unsafe abortions and called for the full implementation of existing guidelines to reduce the risk of harm to women.
According to Adewumi, the implementation of these guidelines would help reduce the secrecy and stigma surrounding abortion, allowing women to seek medical attention from trained professionals rather than resorting to unqualified practitioners. The training, organized by Lawyers Alert, aimed to equip journalists with the necessary tools to report on reproductive issues in a more informed and sensitive manner.
The Senior Communications Officer for Lawyers Alert, Linus Egwu, explained that the training was designed to enhance the quality of reporting on reproductive issues, which is critical to promoting women’s health and well-being in Nigeria. By providing journalists with the necessary knowledge and skills, the organization hopes to contribute to a more informed public discourse on these critical issues. The call to revise Nigeria’s reproductive laws highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing the country’s high maternal mortality rates and promoting the health and well-being of women and girls.
