Groups Train Journalists, CSOs On Sexual, Reproductive Health Rights Advocacy

Journalists and members of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have been trained on how to properly advocate to policy makers on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights of women and girls.
The training was organised by the African Women’s Development Communication Network (Femnet), Kenya and Education as a Vaccine (EVA), Nigeria, under a project tagged “WeLead”, in Abuja.
Speaking on the aim of the training, the WeLead Project Officer at EVA, Blessing Igwe, noted the importance of CSOs and journalists to understand how better to engage stakeholders to ensure “their advocacy needs are met”.
Igwe canvassed for more young people, particularly women and girls, “to be brought to the table and be part of decision-making spaces”, adding that they were mostly underrepresented.
According to her, the recent statistics of candidates in 2023 elections for the National Assembly released by the Independent National Electoral Commssion (INEC) testifed to it.
Igwe revealed that as released by Invictus Africa, of 1100 senatorial candidates, only 8.4% are women, while for the House of Representatives, only 9.2% are women out of 3114 candidates.
“This training will help elected government officials to know what specific needs to be addressed on sexual and reproductive health rights for adolescent girls and young women,” Ms Igwe added.
Also Speaking, the lead communications person for WeLead project Femnet, Sylvia Kerubo, said Nigeria was chosen for the training because her team noticed women and girls in the country lack adequate access to reproductive health services.
Consequently, they felt the need to train persons who can advocate to policy makers on this issue.