The Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) Africa joined the global community in commemorating World Abortion Day, using the occasion to urgently appeal to the Lagos State Government to lift the suspension placed on the Guidelines on Safe Termination of Pregnancy (STOP) for Legal Indications.
The current suspension on the STOP guidelines hinders the realization of this fundamental right and endangers the lives of countless women.
The Guidelines on Safe Termination of Pregnancy for Legal Indications were a landmark step towards standardizing practice and building the capacity of medical personnel to provide safe care within the extant legal framework in Lagos State, especially where the continuation of a pregnancy threatens the life or physical/mental health of the woman.
“On this World Abortion Day, our plea to the Lagos State Government is simple: lift the suspension on the STOP guidelines immediately,” said WARDC Africa Founding Director Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi.
“The suspension undermines the crucial objective of saving women from preventable deaths and denies victims of sexual and gender-based violence, like rape and incest survivors, the comprehensive medical services that are their right under the law, including the domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act,” Akiyode-Afolabi added.
WARDC stresses that for women and girls who are survivors of rape and incest, access to safe termination of pregnancy is not merely a medical procedure but a pathway to reclaiming their bodily autonomy, mental health, and the right to a life of dignity free from the continuous trauma associated with a forced pregnancy.
The current impasse leaves women vulnerable to unsafe procedures, which contributes significantly to Nigeria’s high maternal mortality rate.
Commendation for Progressive States
WARDC also takes this opportunity to commend States within the Federation that have demonstrated exemplary leadership by actively utilizing guidelines or taking steps to clarify and implement provisions that help women access their sexual and reproductive health rights within the legal provisions.
These progressive steps are vital in ensuring that women’s rights are upheld and their lives are protected.
The Appeal
WARDC strongly urges His Excellency, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to:
- Immediately lift the suspension on the Guidelines on Safe Termination of Pregnancy (STOP) for Legal Indications to enable medical professionals to operate confidently within the law and standardize care.
- Ensure the guidelines explicitly cater to survivors of rape and incest, recognizing the grave physical and psychological risks of forced pregnancy in such circumstances.
- Prioritize women’s health and rights over political or religious sentiments, recognizing that the guidelines are a public health imperative to curb preventable maternal deaths.
- WARDC remains committed to working with the Lagos State Government and all stakeholders to uphold the human rights of women and girls in Nigeria.
About WARDC
The Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) is a non-profit civil rights organization committed to promoting respect for human rights, gender equality, equity, the rule of law, accountability, and social justice for women and girls in Nigeria.
