Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria, NRHJN, a non- governmental organization, has called on governments at all levels, development partners, civil society organizations, and community leaders to prioritize policies and programmes that protect women’s rights, expand access to reproductive health services, and create opportunities for women to lead and thrive.
According to a statement released by the Secretariat of the Network, the message is in commemoration of March 8 2026 International Women’s Day, IWD.
It says the theme which is, “Give To Gain,” gives everyone another opportunity to tell the world, the leaders and every stakeholder how very “un-right”, “unjust” and their “unfair inactivity” have reduced the quality of women’s lives”.
According to the release, the needless and senseless wars going on in Europe, the Middle East, and in Africa as well as the heightened insecurity in Nigeria, has reduced lifespans and worsened access to healthcare by women and girls, children and the elderly who are the most vulnerable of every household.
“As a media advocacy group on SRHR, there is the need to draw attention of stakeholders to issues as they affect women, girls and young adult of the challenges faced by these groups”.
For instance, Access to family planning commodities and contraception has also been greatly impacted due to the reduced funding from international partners after the withdrawal of the US Trump’s Administration from global funds such as WHO, UNFPA, USAID among others who are major funders to Africa and developing countries.
Our Call for Right. Justice. Action
On the Theme: Give to Gain
To this end, as SRHR focused group and in line with the 2026 IWD with the Theme “Give to Gain”, the NRHJN call on Nigerians to as a matter of importance do away with the common myths surrounding contraception and family planning, reassess consent for better maternal health (to allow bodily autonomy for women of reproductive age) while urging stakeholders including policy makers, doctors, and youth advocates to discuss local barriers to reproductive healthcare, with the theme “SRHR is a right, not a luxury”:
It advocates more awareness on bodily autonomy and reproductive issues, conversations with a nurse, midwife, a survivor of GBV, a policy advocate, or a woman living with HIV to humanize and normalise discussions around it. This the statement believe is a considerable gain in the reproductive health journey.
It wants women to be able to make informed decisions about their bodies as their futures are also important for the development of the country.
The Network also calls for increased investment in reproductive health services, including family planning, safe motherhood initiatives, maternal healthcare, and adolescent reproductive health education. “Such investments will help reduce preventable maternal deaths, improve child survival, and enhance the overall quality of life for women and families across Nigeria”. it says
This year, IWD 2026 also calls for action to dismantle the structural barriers to equal justice, discriminatory laws, weak legal protections, harmful practices and social norms that erode the rights of women and girls.
“We have got to give up on barriers that limit access to opportunities for young women to contribute to innovative activities that aid development of the economy”. the statement said
As the country sets for 2027 elections, Nigerian women and advocacy groups are demanding the creation of 74 additional, dedicated seats for women in the National Assembly (37 in the Senate and 37 in the House of Representatives) through the “Special Seats for Women Bill”.
This according to the Network is a fair especially when the demands are aimed to correct the severe underrepresentation of women, who currently hold only 19 of the 469 available seats in the 10th National Assembly (about 4%).
What does equal justice look like?
Simply put, your rights are protected and defended, and laws don’t just stay on the books – they get enforced, so that people can experience equal rights and justice. It means legally protected access to education for girls and an end to child marriage.
Women’s freedom to choose to work, participate, and lead in society, including in political and justice systems.
Strengthened protection and prevention to end gender-based violence in all its forms. Family, labour, and healthcare laws that do not discriminate against women.
Justice systems that are free of bias, centred on survivors, and backed by zero tolerance for abuse and impunity. Legal aid that is affordable and accessible. Just to name a few.
The call for the implementation of the National Guidelines on Safe Termination of Pregnancy for Legal indications that was launched in 2018 – across all states, will ensure the prevention of needless deaths from unsafe abortion which accounts for 40 percent of all maternal deaths in the country-5,000 to 6,000 deaths annually.
In his foreword to the National Guidelines on Safe Termination of Pregnancy for Legal Indications (STOP), Former Minister for Health Professor Isaac Adewole, Consultant Gynaecologist, notes, ” an estimated 1.25m induced abortions occurred in Nigeria in 2012 an estimated 33 abortions per 1000 women between 15-49 years”.
Unintended pregnancy was 59 per 100 women, aged 15-49 years; about 212,000 women were reportedly treated for complications of unsafe abortion, accounting for 5.6 per 1000 women of reproductive age and additional 285,000 experienced serious health consequences but did not receive the treatment they needed.
According to Adewole, “Having a guideline on Safe Termination of Pregnancy for Legal Indications is of extreme importance to control unnecessary death of women who lose their lives as a result of conditions that are aggravated by continuation of pregnancy.”
“The implementation of the guidelines will ensure every woman gets the right care she deserves at the right time”.
NRHJN, emphasize the role of the media in amplifying women’s voices, raising awareness about reproductive health rights and holding duty bearers accountable for policies and programmes that affect women’s health and dignity.
The Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria remains committed to using journalism as a tool to advocate women’s health, dignity, and rights.
Happy International Women’s Day