Coalition of Nigerian Civil Society Organizations on ICPD+20 Calls on Governments to Invest More in Girl Child Education as a Way of Improving Adolescent and Young People Reproductive Health.
Civil Society Organizations in Nigeria participating at the ongoing Africa Regional Conference on Population and Development have urged Nigeria and Africa governments to increase investment in adolescent and young people reproductive and sexual health as well as increase support for girl child education.
After months of discussions and targeted advocacy, in the International Conference for Population Development (ICPD) Beyond 2014 country review process, Nigerian CSOs have identified their priorities in relation to health (including sexual and reproductive health and rights), girl child education, and civil participation.
Speaking during the side event facilitated by Centre for Development and Population Activities CEDPA Nigeria/ Plan International and United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) with support from MacArthur Foundation, Prof A.O. Ladipo, President and CEO of Association for Reproductive and Family always valtrex online Health (ARFH) noted that Education as a vaccine for development is a priority for Nigeria and most Africa countries yet achieving that component of the MDGs is still a big challenge.
Progress has been made in child survival, health status of people living with HIV, access to contraception and other reproductive health services, according to a position paper of the CSOs at the breakfast side event meeting held in Addis Ababa on October 1st 2013 . Child marriage robs girls of their right to education. At the same time, education is widely considered to be one of the most important factors in delaying the age of marriage for girls. The side event provided an opportunity to discuss the issues regarding young people’s sexual reproductive health needs, education for the girl child in Nigeria and recommendations were to move forward.
