Abortion: Impregnated Women Should Decide Themselves

Abortion: Impregnated Women Should Decide Themselves

A women's rights organisation on May 17 released a reaction statement to the reports advising the impregnated Boko Haram victims on the issue of abortion.

Within the past month the Nigerian army has rescued hundreds of women and children from Boko Haram captivity. It was reported that after medical check-ups more than 200 females were found to have been impregnated by the militants.

Soon the internet exploded with discussions on whether the women should get rid of the children fathered by the insurgents.

Project Alert On Violence Against Women also issued  a statement signed by its executive director Josephine Effah-Chukwuma. The organization insisted that it is up to the women to decide whether to abort their children or not.

See the message in full below:

"Project Alert's attention was drawn to an on line report in The Herald Newspaper of today May 17th in which a so called coalition of NGOs in Lagos known as the Foundation for African Heritage, FACH, stated that it is "unreasonable and illogical for the girls to subject the girls to a traumatic, violent and life threatening abortion process. This statement was made by the the Director of FACH, Mr. Sonnie Ekwowusi while donating some cash to NEMA to assist with the girls rehabilitation.

"The donation made by FACH does not give them the right to decide what is in the best interest of the girls who have been subjected to months of unimaginable physical, sexual and psychological terror. What greater trauma, violence and life threatening situation can the women/girls face than what they were subjected to during the months of their captivity?

READ ALSO: God Will Understand, Abort Pregnancies – Nigerians Tell Boko Haram Victims

"Why do we we always play politics with the lives of women and girls? The decision whether to have abortion or not is the exclusive decision of the girls in close consultations with their immediate families. None of us have the faintest clue of the extent and depth of physical and psychological pain and torture these girls and their families went through, thus none of us have the right to decide for them.

"This is indeed the one time, these girls would have to decide through put this nightmarish experience. They never decided to be kidnapped. They never decided to be raped brutally and severally by their abductors; and for sure they never decided to get pregnant. This is the one time they get to decide

READ ALSO: Shettima Reveals Where Chibok Girls Are Hidden, Tells Military What To Do

"The law on abortion in Nigeria definitely does not hold water in this case. So also should religious sentiments not hold sway. For once as a people let's be real and not hypocritical. For as many of the girls who want to keep the pregnancy should be supported to do so; and for as many who want to abort it, should be supported to do so. This is not the time or occasion for politics of any kind."

Meanwhile, many Nigerians took to social media to share their points of view. Many advised women to abort the unwanted children who they said "will bring no joy to this world".

Some, however, said that innocent babies should not be held responsible for the situation. They insisted that with the proper upbringing they will become good citizens of Nigeria.

Source: Legit.ng

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