APPRAISAL OF THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK OF THE SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) of women is the state of the physiological wellness of the female organs for sexual intercourse, conception and childbirth which are naturally endowed and could be legally protected. However, there are perennial bottlenecks to effective legal regimes in Nigeria to spearhead this. Sequel to these cankerworms, the aim of this article and the major objective, was to appraise the legal framework of the sexual and reproductive health rights of women in Nigeria. The research methodology was doctrinal approach, using expository and analytical research design. It was observed that some Nigerian laws are inimical to women’s reproductive rights; also most illnesses among women of 15 to 40years old in Nigeria are related to pregnancy, abortion, childbirth, reproductive tract infections, HIV/AIDS, domestic sexual violence and other culturally associated issues. The main sources of data collection were various legal literatures, both from the physical library and the e-library. Therefore, it was recommended among others that Nigerian legislators and the judiciary should adopt the sound principles and related provisions in foreign jurisdictions to advance women’s sexual and reproductive rights. Finally, this article was made to be significant to all stakeholders in human right and feminism.