By Oboh Agbonkhese

Concerned non-governmental organisations, NGOs, and rights activists have raised alarm over what they described as “the hidden dangers” in the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, CEDAW, and the Comprehensive Sexuality Education, CSE.

Speaking at a briefing on the African Regional World Congress of Families organised by Foundation for African Cultural Heritage in Lagos, the Director, Dr. Okafor Theresa, said CEDAW, a United Nations, UN, convention ratified by Nigeria in 1985 but yet to be domesticated, is laudable on the face value.

However, she pointed out that couched in deceptive words in articles 10(h), 12, 14(b) and 16 of CEDAW are the real intentions: legalising sterilisation of women to control population, prostitution and abortion, which is why sex education in secondary schools must be stopped.

She said questions must be asked as to who are behind the rising number of abortion clinics in Africa and why workers are made to sign undertakings not to reveal what happens in the clinics.

On her part, Sharon Slater, the President of Family Watch International, co-sponsor of the conference, said the sponsors of CSE were only concerned about making profits, because they make the products (condoms, pills, among others) that youths are encouraged to use.

A poignant point was made by Salome van der Wende, Founder of Abortion Information, when she apologised for the years Africa was subjected to exploitation via slave trade, adding that the same people have come back under a different guise to harvest human parts by targeting African children.

Other speakers were Andrew Marsh of UK-based Christian Concern, who said family failures cost the taxpayer £48 billion in 2016; Bridget Itsuehi, Founder and Chairperson, Relate Africa Organisation for Marriage and Family; Jackhin Gandi and Akech Aimba of Pearls and Treasure Trust, Kenya, both of who had experiences with abortions, drugs and abortion clinics; members of Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, LSUBEB and other government officials.