ABEOKUTA– Stakeholders have called for a justice reforms in bridging the legal gaps in reproductive health care systems in Ogun state.
This forms part of the discussions at a two day roundtable program held at the Pious Event Center, Abeokuta, with insights from Gender Development Initiative.
It was gathered that sensitization efforts revealed that despite growing awareness, many women and girls, especially those facing pregnancy due to rape, incest, or serious medical conditions continue to resort to unsafe abortion practices.
This, according to the stakeholders has led to preventable cases of maternal mortality and severe health complications.
The event therefore focus on the glaring gaps in Ogun State’s legal framework, which currently denies survivors of rape, incest, and medically challenged pregnant persons’ access to standardized medical services.
The discussions unearthed serious deficiencies in the existing policies, sparking urgent calls for legislative reforms to safeguard the lives of these vulnerable groups.
Participants at the roundtable painted a grim picture of the current state of reproductive healthcare access in Ogun State. While some policies exist, they fail to explicitly cater to survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and individuals with high-risk pregnancies.
Stakeholders expressed concerns over the absence of clear legal provisions that allow rape and incest survivors to access safe medical services, including abortion where necessary.
At the end, there was a consensus on the inadequate dissemination and implementation of reproductive health policies, as well as the lack of awareness among healthcare providers and law enforcement agencies about the legal and medical rights of affected individuals.
Attendees passionately advocated for a state-specific legal framework that would unequivocally guarantee access to standardized medical services for those in dire need.
Recommendations included the drafting of a law ensuring that survivors of rape and incest can obtain safe medical procedures without fear or restriction.
There were also calls to expand reproductive health policies to explicitly address medically challenged pregnancies, bolster partnerships between lawmakers and civil society organizations, and enhance public sensitization campaigns to educate communities on reproductive health rights.
The stakeholders further emphasized the need for capacity-building initiatives to train healthcare workers and law enforcement agencies on the sensitive handling of SGBV cases, ensuring compliance with both legal and ethical standards.
They underscored the necessity of equipping professionals with the requisite knowledge and resources to provide survivor-centered care while maintaining confidentiality and dignity.
The stakeholders therefore tasked the Ogun State government to bridge the legal gaps and establish a framework that guarantees access to standardized medical care for all who need it.
