(International Center for Reproductive Health and Sexual Rights) Nigeria An NGO Confronting Taboos

INCRESE was founded by Dorothy Aken’Ova in 2000, in the northern part of Nigeria, an area generally noted as particularly conservative. In the face of state and fundamentalist religious opposition, INCRESE courageously calls attention to lack of laws, policies, infrastructure and political will to address the reproductive and sexual health needs and rights of people in marginalized groups, and in particular, women and young people. In its advocacy at local, regional and global levels, INCRESE focuses on rights of marginalized people, including sex workers, LGBT people and people with disabilities. In their fight to challenge and eliminate discrimination related to gender and sexuality, INCRESE members and supporters sometimes confront ‘taboos’ head on: the organization runs community workshops on unsafe abortion, teen pregnancy, rape and same sex sexuality – and sometimes does this ‘in secret’ to protect participants’ safety and confidentiality.