Rethinking abortion access for women in conflict and post-conflict situations in Nigeria

Abstract

Historically, women in conflict and post-conflict situations have on the basis of their status been subjected to harmful and discriminatory practices which run contrary to international, regional and domestic provisions guaranteeing various human rights including the rights to freedom from torture, cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment or punishment; discrimination; violence; privacy and autonomous decision making within the context of healthcare etc. Whereas recent years have seen an improvement in State responses globally, in Nigeria the experiences of women in conflict and post-conflict situations remain deplorable. Despite the ratification of various international and regional treaties in this regard, issues revolving around access to safe abortion remain problematic. They are also further complicated by questions of holistic adoption and implementation of ratified instruments in this regard. Consequently, though consensus has been achieved on paper, implementation remains a mirage particularly across the Middle Belt region and the Northeast which are grappling with farmer-herder conflict and insurgency by proscribed armed groups respectively.

This mini-dissertation discusses in-depth the current framework for the protection of women’s reproductive health and rights related to access to abortion services in conflict and post-conflict situations in Nigeria in view of international and regional human rights obligations, highlighting the challenges and prospects and identifies key opportunities for consideration in the protection of these rights by municipal law.

This research is relevant to legal, ethical and social discourses as well as issues of policy formulation and implementation related to reproductive health and rights protection in conflict and post-conflict situations within Nigeria.