The Network of Women Leaders for Development (RFLD) organized in Niamey, Niger in the second week of December 2022, an advocacy meeting for the ratification by Niger of the Maputo Protocol on Women's Rights.
This meeting served as a framework for building women's capacities on the components of comprehensive sexuality education and their practice in Niger, and for advocating with the Nigerien authorities for the ratification of the Maputo Protocol.
Socio-cultural barriers and the fact that youth sexual health is considered a highly taboo subject in Niger make it difficult to discuss and debate sexuality and therefore create obstacles to its eradication, even though there are laws that condemn it. That said, the existence of laws and treaties in favor of girls and women does not mean that they are enforced. But even if there are gaps, the legislative and policy landscape is full of important elements to build on to influence the consideration of young people's sexual and reproductive health. However, the level of knowledge of the laws and legislative framework by those who are expected to enforce them or even by the people who are expected to comply remains very low.
In order to correct this situation, Niger has made several commitments at the national and international level to improve the reproductive health of adolescents and youth in Niger. In compliance with these commitments, the Government of Niger has not yet conducted a feasibility study on the exemption of adolescents and youth from the direct costs of modern contraceptive methods. It is therefore essential to provide adolescents and young people with the information they need to thrive. Thus, a series of steps and actions must be taken to develop and introduce modules on reproductive health in training curricula. In order to achieve these results, it is essential to work on a socio-cultural environment that supports integrated sexuality education in order to remove socio-cultural barriers.
But what is integrated sexuality education? How can women working in reproductive health and family planning, as part of the "adolescents and youth" target group, help improve the socio-cultural environment in Niger? How can they work to remove the barriers identified in previous meetings? What strategies should be adopted for a synergy of actions? The Republic of Niger has a weak legal arsenal, as well as weak regulatory measures to promote gender at all levels of life. Niger has not yet ratified the Maputo Protocol, but through the advocacy that will be carried out, the authorities will be called upon to ratify it so that women can fully play their role in Nigerien society.
Despite the fact that articles 14 and 21 on the right to health and control of reproductive functions, and the right to inheritance, respectively, are factors delaying ratification of the protocol, the protection and promotion of women's rights are ongoing concerns in Niger. At a time when several African countries are engaged in an unprecedented struggle against impunity and for the establishment of the rule of law, the rapid adoption and entry into force of the protocol and its operationalization are an urgent matter for Niger. The RFLD calls on the Nigerien authorities to ratify the Maputo Protocol. For the RFLD, the adoption of this protocol by Niger will constitute a formidable advance from a legal point of view for the respect of women's rights.
