Communique Issued at the end of a 2-Day Capacity-Strengthening Forum on the Implementation of Article 14 of the Maputo Protocol on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Nigeria

Preamble

Participants of the two-day capacity-strengthening forum, representing government agencies, civil society organizations, legal and health professionals, traditional and religious leaders, youth activists, persons with disabilities, and the media, convened in Abuja by BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights, Equality Now, and the The Solidarity for African Women's Rights (SOAWR) coalition to deepen understanding and strengthen commitment to the effective implementation of Article 14 of the Maputo Protocol. The forum's overall objective aimed to strengthen the capacity of the key stakeholders in Nigeria to advocate and support the domestication and implementation of the provisions of Article 14 related to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of the Maputo Protocol, thereby advancing SRHR for women and girls, inclusive of the marginalized and vulnerable groups.

Observations.

 At the Forum, the following critical observations were made:

• ·Article 14 of the Maputo Protocol is yet to be domesticated in Nigeria, despite ratification in 2004.

• ·It is central to women’s health, reproductive autonomy, and protection from gender-based violence.

• ·The Reserved Seats Bill under consideration in Nigeria is relevant to gender equality and should be aligned with advocacy for Article 14.

• ·SRHR is a basic human right, not a privilege, and should be promoted appropriately.

• ·Marital rape, adolescents’ access to contraceptives, and safe abortion are not prioritized within national SRHR frameworks.

• ·Inclusive, accessible shelters and services, especially for persons with disabilities (PWDs), remain inadequate across the country.

• ·Cultural and religious leaders are not adequately engaged in SRHR promotion.

• ·A skills gap exists within health systems regarding SRHR service delivery for women, girls, and persons with disabilities.

• ·Advocacy for SRHR via traditional and digital media platforms remains limited.

• ·Key actors including the executive, legislature, faith and traditional institutions are not sufficiently central in SRHR promotion.

• ·Funding constraints limit the scale, reach, and sustainability of SRHR programs.

• ·Vulnerable groups including PWDs, the aged, and marginalized communities are excluded from most SRHR interventions.

• ·Limited data and research impede effective policy engagement and advocacy.

• ·There is a growing resistance to SRHR advocacy, stemming from cultural and political opposition.

• ·A lack of coordination among CSOs and weak implementation oversight mechanisms were identified as barriers.

• ·Youth and women leaders are showing strong enthusiasm and capacity for sustained advocacy.
  

Key Outcomes and Strategies. 

• The Forum developed an Advocacy and Representation Action Plan that includes:

• ·Popularizing the Maputo Protocol through knowledge creation and awareness campaigns.

• ·Sustaining advocacy for domestication of Article 14 at national and subnational levels.

• ·Supporting review of the National Gender Policy and alignment of the VAPP Act with Article 14.

• ·Partnering with the media, legal experts, and communities to document and share SRHR stories.

• ·Building inclusive coalitions to drive SRHR advocacy, including CSOs, traditional leaders, youth, and persons with disabilities.

• ·Enhancing data collection for disaggregated evidence on SRHR gaps and needs.

• ·A multi-stakeholder advocacy action was also developed to assign timelines, responsible parties, and cost projections for various actions.

Recommendations.

Based on the above observations and strategic plans, the following recommendations were made: 

• The strategic domestication of Article 14 of the Maputo Protocol in Nigeria.

• ·Align the Reserved Seats Bill with broader gender advocacy goals and national political goals.

• Include marital rape, adolescents' access to contraceptives, and abortion in national SRHR conversations and services.

• ·Establish and scale inclusive, accessible shelters and SRHR services across Nigeria.

• ·Engage cultural and religious leaders in SRHR dialogue and implementation.

• Address capacity gaps in healthcare delivery through structured training programs.

• ·Expand media-based advocacy to increase public support for SRHR and Maputo Protocol domestication.

• ·Center key sectors-executive, legislature, traditional, religious, and media in SRHR policy advocacy and delivery.

• Increase funding and resource mobilization for SRHR programs (Art.14 ref) in Nigeria.

• ·Ensure inclusion of vulnerable populations, including PWDs, the elderly, and marginalized groups, in all SRHR interventions.

• Invest in evidence-based advocacy through research and disaggregated data collection.

• Utilize digital platforms and AI tools for campaign amplification.

• ·Form cross-sector coalitions and advocacy networks to strengthen coordination and continuity.

Conclusion

We, the participants, reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that the provisions of Article 14 of the Maputo Protocol become a lived reality for all Nigerian women and girls, including those with disabilities and marginalized groups.

We call on the Nigerian government, legislators, donors, CSOs, traditional leaders, youth groups, and all stakeholders to act now. The time to transform commitments into action, access, and accountability is now.

Signed:

Participants of the 2025 Capacity-Strengthening Forum on Strengthening the Implementation of the Maputo Protocol on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Nigeria.