Baobab for Women's Human Rights (BAOBAB), in collaboration with Equality Now and the Solidarity for African Women's Rights (SOAWR) Coalition held a two-day residential capacity building parley on the implementation of Article 14 of the Maputo Protocol (MP) on Sexual & Reproductive Rights (SRHR) in Nigeria. The venue was The Envoy Hotel, Abuja. I was a valued delegate at the dialogue. The aim was to strengthen the capacity of state and non-state actors to advocate for and support the domestication and implementation of of Article 14 of the MP.
L-R: Hon. Dr. Uju Onwundiwe (Fmr. Member, Imo State House of Assembly) & Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa
The Forum brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, civil society representatives, lawyers, media actors and religious/community leaders. The Forum deliberated on legal, policy and socio-cultural dimensions of SRHR in Nigeria. A platform for the design of advocacy approaches towards the domestication of the MP was developed. The facilitators were Dr. Ejiro Otive-Igbuzor and Ms. Ajobo Atuluku. Ms. Mubi Mugo and Ms. Elizabeth Alukudu were from Equality Now (Kenya).
Group Photo: 2nd left - Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa, 6th from left - Yeye Bunmi Dipo-Salami (ED BAOBAB)
In my intervention, I expressed delight about the fact that this Forum on Article 14 of the MP is coming up simultaneously with the Reserved Seats Bill now before the National Assembly (NASS). The Bill, HB 1349, seeks to increase the number of legislators in Nigeria at both the NASS and the State Houses of Assembly. These two issues: Article 14 of the MP & HB 1349 would synergistically advance the cause of women in Nigeria. This is indeed a welcome coincidence!
In her opening remarks, Yeye Bunmi called out attention to the fact that the room was a melting pot of expertise. Besides, we should acknowledge those who paved the way for our current work like Aisha Imam (Women In Nigeria - WIN), Prof. Bene Madunagu, Ms. Bilkis Yusuf, Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Mme. Margaret Ekpo and many others. Despite the robust nature of the MP, the journey from Ratification to Domestication is long. The MP is still not legally enforceable in our Courts. We need to close the gap between internatuinal commitment and domestic reality. We need to strengthen the political voices of women by having more women in the legislature. That is why the 'Reserved Seats Bill' currently at the National Assembly (NASS), is a critical step to put provisions like the MP on the front burner.
SRHR is not a foreign concept. We need to democratise it for domestic use - and such utilisation should be inclusive: CSOs, PWDs, Government, Media, Religious/Community leaders, etc. Chartam House rules apply here, so feel free to express yourself and share best practices. The entire nation is represented in this room. We expect to generate new knowledge and a clear roadmap for advancing SRHR.
Then there was the Pre-Test administered by the facilitators. The diversity in the responses by paricipants to the same image(s) showed that even when we are perusing the same images, our experiences determine the number of things we see in any image...
There were sessions on the following:
*Introduction to the MP & its relevance to women/girls' rights in Africa
*The MP & SRHR in the Nigerian context
*Decondtructing Article 14
*Stakeholders' perspectives & Challenges (Panel discussion)
*Group work
*Strengthening the capacity of healthcare systems
*Advocacy & communication for change
*Action plan & way forward
The Forum made the following recommendations (as contained in the Communique)
1) The strategic domestication of Article 14 of the MP
2) Align the Reserved Seats Bill with broader gender advocacy
3) Include marital rape and contraception for adoleacents in the interrogation of SRHR
4) Establish and scale accessible/inclusive shelters in SRHR services in Nigeria
5) Expand media-based advocacy for SRHR
6) Increase funding and resource mobilisation for SRHR
7) Ensure inclusion of vulnerable groups in SRHR care
8) Utilise digital platforms/AI in SRHR campaigns
9) Form cross-sector coalitions and advocacy networks to strengthen coordination in communities
Meanwhile, one of the participants has organised training of trainers (ToT) in his local community less than a week after the convening. This is indeed rapid translation of a national discourse into effective local action. We continue to interact on the WhatsApp Group labelled 'Article 14 Coalition' and I dare say the level of collaboration on the platform is nothing short of impactful so far...Congrats to all fellow participants...
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