AN EXAMINATION OF THE IMPACT OF ANTI-PROSTITUTION LAWS ON REPRODUCTIVE AND SEXUAL HEALTH AND RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN NIGERIA

Abstract

There is almost no known civilization, past or present that this social phenomenon called Prostitution has not existed as it exists today. Nevertheless, it is generally disapproved of in many societies, Nigeria not being an exception. While there exists evidence of research that prove that this practice is common in Nigeria, so much that the need to abolish its practice by legislation has arisen, there seems to be a lack of consideration for the health of the practitioner, especially during the period of rehabilitation and reintegration. It is against this backdrop that this paper is conceived. This paper adopts the doctrinal methodology and analyses the extant laws viz-a-viz existing facts and theories with a view to verify and support legal hypothesis. It examines the phenomenon of prostitution, extant legislation regulating or abolishing its practice and the effect of this legislation on the reproductive health of the victim. The paper finds that there is a gap in the existing laws especially in the area of rehabilitation and reintegration mechanisms. It therefore posits recommendations emphasizing the need to safeguard the health of vulnerable girls and women engaged in prostitution, whether voluntarily or otherwise.