Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are fundamental human rights that ensure individuals can make informed decisions regarding their sexuality, bodily autonomy, reproductive choices, and overall well-being.
Despite the progress SRHR has recorded in mainstream Nigeria, there is an even wider access gap for lesbians, bisexuals, queer communities, and sex workers who are stigmatized and marginalized. As an organization, GWHREI and other similar organizations have done remarkable work addressing notable gaps in the healthcare and human rights systems, but there is still so much to do.
This is not the first manual ever created on the SRHR needs of LBQ+ persons and female sex workers, but we recognize the need for contextualizing and localizing a manual that is comprehensive enough to educate, sensitize, and advocate for the SRHR inclusion of our communities, based on their own lived experiences within the Nigerian context.
It is as much a training guide, as it is an advocacy tool. In line with the above, this training manual was produced. This process commenced with desk reviews and a technical working group within the community to be able to develop a manual that is tailored specifically to the needs while addressing the gap by engaging all necessary stakeholders to bridge the gap in accessing comprehensive care across all health areas.
