Harmful practices persist: A need for law reform & resourced implementation to realise women & girls’ rights – Niger
This policy brief builds on evidence from the review of key legal, policy and programmatic e orts for ending early child and forced marriages, Female Genital Mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) and promoting access to abortion services. Gender-based violence is of great concern in Niger as 60 per cent of adolescent girls and women experience at least one type of violence in their lifetime. The issues focused on in this policy brief are serious common practices that violate women and girls’ human rights. To redress the three vices concerted policy reforms through strategic advocacy and community level social behaviour change communication e orts are critical for the promotion of comprehensive Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR). The impact of COVID-19 is explored to determine any impact on promoting or preventing the harmful practices, un/under reporting and subsequently propelling the continuation of child marriages, female genital mutilation prevention and limited access to safe abortion services in Niger. This policy brief will contribute to achieving major advocacy priorities in the Strategic Plan for the African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) Strategic Plan (2020-2029), and the priorities of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).
