FAMILY PLANNING AS A REPRODUCTIVE RIGHT IN NIGERIA: A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE ROLE OF MEN

Abstract

Family planning exists as a fundamental aspect of the right to bodily autonomy as recognized under reproductive health and rights. Embedded in the legal provisions concerning reproductive rights is the right to determine the number and spacing of one’s children. Specifically, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) provides that it is the basic right of all couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing, and timing of their children and to have the information and means to do so. This article examines the role of men in family planning and their acceptance and access to male contraceptives. This article typically adopts the doctrinal methodology and examines the legal frameworks in Nigeria governing family planning decisions vis-à-vis the rights and obligations arising therefrom. The article further identifies key legal gaps, particularly in the area of contraceptive rights and parental obligations, as it affects men, because this area of discourse has traditionally been women-centered. It finds that despite the evolution of reproductive health and rights law, significant disparities exist in the male and female application and reception of the realities of accessing information and reproductive health services in Nigeria. It concludes that a concise legal framework for family planning that encompasses both