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Forced abortion is not only reproductive violence but crime against humanity – WOMANIFESTO

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Feminist Womanifesto Group, a coalition of over 200 women groups has described the alleged secret abortion programme that terminated thousands of pregnancies among women and girls who were rescued from Boko Haram militants by the Nigerian military as a crime against humanity.

Outraged by the alleged act, the group in a statement signed by its Convener, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, stated that “forced abortion is not only reproductive violence but also a crime against humanity and breaches laws of armed conflict and international humanitarian law.”

During a recent meeting with officials of the United Nations, the Nigerian government and development partners at its headquarters in Abuja, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC said it will probe the report. The meeting which focused on Nigeria’s human rights record comes in the wake of allegations against the Nigerian military revealed by a Reuters news agency investigation.

The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres had earlier urged the Nigerian authorities to investigate allegations of systemic and coerced abortions reportedly perpetrated by its army.

But Nigeria’s military insist that the Reuters report is false. Military Defence Chief, Gen. Lucky Irabor, described the report as ‘spurious allegations’ noting that the military does not intend to investigate the claims.

The women group’s statement titled—WOMANIFESTO CONDEMNS THE ALLEGED FORCED ABORTION OF AT LEAST 10,000 PREGNANCIES AMONG RESCUED WOMEN AND GIRLS WHOM HAD BEEN KIDNAPPED AND RAPED BY ISLAMIST MILITANTS, BOKO HARAM BY THE NIGERIAN MILITARY, reads:

We received with shock, ‘The Abortion Assault” report published by Reuters where it is alleged that the Nigerian military ran a secret mass abortion program in the war against Boko Haram. We condemn this reproductive violence allegedly carried out by the Nigerian Military since at least 2013. These illegal, secret abortions were carried out without the women’s knowledge or consent with many held at gunpoint, drugged or beaten into compliance. We were shocked also that several of the victims were young girls. This is unethical and condemnable.

We are concerned that such barbarity can take place in this country without the government’s knowledge. We call on the Nigerian Government to take responsibility for this dastardly act and take immediate steps to save other young women from being victims of illegal and illegitimate abortion.

Abortion is a restricted reproductive right in Nigeria, carried out to save the life of a woman. Many rescued women and girls had already experienced multiple forms of sexual and gender-based violence. Survivors of sexual and gender-based violence who are rescued deserve quality medical and psychological health care. To be given abortions forcefully after being rescued allegedly by the Nigerian Military is a human right violation.

Forced abortion is not only reproductive violence but also a crime against humanity and breaches laws of armed conflict and international humanitarian law. Although Maj-Gen. Jimmy Akpor, Director of Defence Information at Defence Headquarters called this report blackmail mercenary journalism and denies these allegations of infanticide and crimes against humanity.

Respect for women’s reproductive rights implies that women’s bodily integrity must be protected, and her ability to consent to whatever happens or whatever choices she has to make on her body is critical. Withdrawing such authority from these women is a violation of their fundamental rights.

The report shows that this dignity was trampled upon by the military. 

We urge the Nigerian Military and the Nigerian Government by extension to investigate these allegations. 

We demand that the government steps into the matter urgently to investigate this matter and punish the culprits. 

The affected women and girls have the rights to be protected, but failure to do so shows the government is an accomplice, the theory of command responsibility in international law is clear.

Signed on behalf of Feminist Womanifesto Group

Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi 

Convener

Tel: (234) 805 595 1858 | Email:  abiolaak@yahoo.com

List of WOMANIFESTO Member Organizations

1. 100 Women Lobby Group 

2. 9jafeminista 

3. Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls 

4. Above Whispers Media Foundation 

5. Action Aid Nigeria 3 

6. ACTS Generation GBV 

7. Ade Grange Child Foundation 

8. ADEM Community & Human Development Foundation 

9. Adinya Arise Foundation (AAF) 

10. Advocate for Health and Development Initiative 

11. African Women’s Initiative (AWI) 

12. Ajegunle Community Project 

13. Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation 

14. Alliances for Africa (AfA) 

15. Aminchi Women Cooperative Society 

16. ARDA Development Communication Inc. 

17. Arise Nigerian Woman Foundation 

18. ATATA Development and Empowerment Foundation (ADEF) 

19. Ayisha Osori 

20. Ayodeji Fadugba

21. Baobab for Women’s Human Rights 

22. BLECCA Foundation 

23. Bring Back Our Girls 

24. Briskila Emefesi Women Foundation (BEWOF) 

25. Cece Yara Foundation 

26. Cedar Seed Foundation 

27. CEE-HOPE Nigeria 

28. Center for Economic Empowerment and Gender Activities (CEEGA) 

29. Centre for Alternative Development and Self-Enhancement (CEADESE NG) 

30. Centre for Health and Development in Africa (CHEDA) 

31. Centre for Nonviolence and Gender Advocacy in Nigeria (CENGAIN) 

32. Centre for Peace Education and Community Development 

33. Centre for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN) 

34. Change Managers International Network 

35. Charity Women Spring of Salvation 

36. Chedal Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society 

37. Child Care and Adult Protection Initiative (CCAPI) 

38. Choung-Dung Women Association 

39. Christian Women for Excellence and Empowerment in Nigerian Society (CWEENS) 

40. Christian Women in Nigerian Politics 

41. Citizens Center for Integrated Development and Social Rights (CCIDESOR) 

42. Community and Youth Development 

43. Community Education Advancement of Peace and Development Initiative (CEAPDI) 

44. Community Initiative for Healthy and Peaceful Society 4 

45. Community Life Project (CLP) 

46. Community Rescue Initiative (CRI) 

47. Community Women Initiatives

48. Country Associates Network 

49. Courageous People Health and Development Initiative (CPHDL) 

50. Crestville Development Foundation 

51. Daria Media Foundation 

52. Development in Practice Gender and Entrepreneurial Initiative (DIPGEI) 

53. Dinidari Foundation 

54. Dorothy Njemanze Foundation 

55. Dream Alive Women and Orphans Support Foundation (DAWOS Foundation) 

56. Ebere Ifendu

57. Echoes of Women in Africa Initiatives 

58. Edo Women’s Development Initiative 

59. Education as a Vaccine (EVA) 

60. EiE Nigeria 

61. Emerge Women Development Initiative 

62. Empowerment and Action Research Centre 

63. Equality Through Education Foundation (ETEF) 

64. Equity Advocates 65. FACICP Disability Plus 

66. FAME Foundation 

67. Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria (FIWON) 

68. Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN) 

69. Federation of Paralegal Network (FEDPAN) 

70. Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) 

71. Fembridge Development Initiative (FEDI) 

72. First Future Leadership 

73. First Future Leadership Company/GTE 

74. Forward in Action for Education, Poverty and Malnutrition (FACE-PAM) 

75. Funke Baruwa

76. Gender Action Awareness Trust 

77. Gender and Constitution Reform Network (GECORN) 

78. Gender and Development Action (GADA) 

79. Gender and Environmental Risk Reduction Initiative (GERI) 

80. Gender Awareness Trust (GAT) 

81. Gender Development Initiative 

82. Gender Equality Center 83. Gender Equality, Peace and Development Centre 5 

84. Girl Child Advocacy and Education Initiatives 

85. Girl Child Africa 86. Girl Child Education, Care & Rehabilitation 

87. Girl Education Rehabilitation and Care (GERAC) 

88. Girls Power Initiative (GPI)

89. Global Hope for Women and Children Foundation (GLOHWOC)

90. Global Liberation for Women 91. Green Spring Development Initiative 

92. Habiba Dangana (Hadis) Foundation 

93. Heal Disability Initiative

94. Health Education and Human Rights Advocacy Initiative 

95. Health Reform Foundation of Nigeria (HERFON) 

96. HEIR Women Development 

97. Help Initiative for Social Justice & Humanitarian Development 

98. Hope for New Life 

99. Initiative for Research, Innovation and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD) 

100. Inter-Gender Peace Foundation 

101. International Action Network on Small Arms – Women Network 

102. International Hairstylists, Barber and Body Therapists (IHSTOBAN) 

103. International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH) 

104. International Women Communication Centre 

105. Iyaniwura Children Care Foundation 

106. Jamatul Nasir Islam, Women Wing 

107. Jana Health Foundation 

108. Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) 

109. Justice Development and Peace Mission (JDPM) 

110. K/Mashi Gamji Women 

111. Kadaria Ahmed 

112. Kebetkache Women Development and Resources Centre 

113. Kimpact Initiatives 

114. Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND) 

115. Kungiyar Tallafin Mata Development Initiative 

116. League of Queens International Empowerment 

117. League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV) 

118. Learning Skills Through Skills Acquisition Initiative (LETSAI) 

119. Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) 

120. Lift Initiative 

121. MBULA Women Association 

122. Media & Teens Network

123. Media Concern Initiative 

124. Mojubaolu Olufunke Okome

125. More Women in Politics 

126. My Future My Voice 

127. Nasrul – Lahi-L- Faith Society (NASFAT) 

128. National Centre for Women Development 

129. National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) 

130. NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women 

131. Neighbourhood Care-Well Foundation 

132. Network of Reproductive Health Journalists of Nigeria (NRHJN) 

133. Next Initiative for Gender Actions (NIGA) 

134. NGAS Women Farmers’ Cooperative Society 

135. Nigeria Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ) 

136. Nigeria For Women Project 

137. Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Women Committee 

138. Nigeria Union Of Teachers (NUT) 

139. Nigerian Express 

140. Nigerian Women Politics Forum 

141. Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NTWF) 

142. Ogayem Merciful Care and Support Initiatives (OMCSI) 

143. Ogun Women Alive 

144. Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso

145. Olive Community Development Initiatives 

146. Onomese Foundation 

147. Osi Joe Touching Lives Initiative 

148. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Initiative (OLPHI) 

149. Ovie Brume Foundation 

150. Partners West Africa (PWAN) 

151. Peasant Dragnet 

152. Princess Hamman-Obels

153. Proactive Gender Initiative (PGI) 

154. Project Alert on Violence Against Women 

155. Ray of Hope Community Foundation 

156. Relief Development Initiative Kaduna 

157. Responsible Citizenship and Human Development Initiative 

158. She Forum Africa 

159. She4She Africa Initiative 

160. Shout Global Health 

161. Small-scale Women Farmers Organization of Nigeria (SWOFON) 7 

162. South-South Professional Women Association 

163. Stand to End Rape (STER) 

164. Stephanie Peace Building Development Foundation 

165. Support for Needy Children and Women Initiative (SUNCHI) 

166. TechHerNG

167. The Access Foundation 

168. The Inclusion Project (TIP) 

169. The Priceless Jewels Foundation 

170. The Woman Today Newspaper (TWT) 

171. THR Media – HERFESSIONS INITIATIVE 

172. Tonia Bruised But Not Broken Foundation 

173. Transformation and Development Center (TDC) 

174. Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) 

175. Tunde & Friends Foundation (TAFF) 

176. UTO Foundation 

177. Vision Spring Initiatives (VSI) 

178. Voice of Ogun Women (VOW) 

179. West African Network for Peace 

180. Widows Development Organization (WIDO) 

181. Woman-Being Concern Nigeria 

182. Women & Youth Awareness Empowerment Network (WOYAEN) 

183. Women Advocacy, HIV Prevention and Other Diseases (WAHPOD) 

184. Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC) 

185. Women Aid Collective (WACOL) 

186. Women and Youth Empowerment for Advancement and Health Initiative 

187. Women Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON) 

188. Women Education Advocacy and Development Initiatives (WEADI) 

189. Women Empowerment and Initiative Development 

190. Women Empowerment and Reproductive Health Centre (WERHC) 

191. Women Empowerment Education and Peace Building Initiative (WEPBI) 

192. Women Environmental Programme

193. Women Farmers Alliance 

194. Women for Peace and Gender Equality Initiative (WOPEGEE) 

195. Women for Women International 

196. Women Foundation Initiative 

197. Women Foundation of Nigeria (WFN) 

198. Women in Action for Positive Development and Gender Enhancement Center (WAPGADEC) 

199. Women Action Organization (WAO) 8 

200. Women in Africa Initiative 

201. Women in Agriculture 

202. Women in Mining 

203. Women in Politics Forum 

204. Women Information Network (WINET) 

205. Women Initiative for Democracy and Empowerment (WIDE) 

206. Women Law and Development Initiative (WOLDI) 

207. Women Law Development Center of Nigeria (WLDCN) 

208. Women League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) 

209. Women of Vision Development Initiative 

210. Women Protection Organization (WOPO) 

211. Women Wing of The Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN) 

212. Women, Infants and Children Care Initiative (WICCI) 

213. Women, Youths and Children Advancement Program 

214. Women Optimum Development Foundation (WODEF) 

215. Women Right to Education Programme (WREP) 

216. Women’s Crisis Centre Owerri 

217. Women’s Rights and Health Project (WRAHP) 

218. Working Moms Africa 

219. Wumi Asubiaro-Dada 

220. Yeye Adenike Agnes Shobajo

221. Yiaga Africa 

222. Youth Future Savers Initiative 

223. Zonta International Club of Lagos

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