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The viability of supported decision-making in protecting adolescent girls with intellectual disability from involuntary sterilisation in Nigeria

Thesis (LLD)--University of Pretoria, 2019.

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Other Authors: Ngwena, Charles
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2019
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Ngwena, Charles
author_browse Ngwena, Charles
author_facet Ngwena, Charles
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2019 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Thesis (LLD)--University of Pretoria, 2019.
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:37:35.577Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2019
publishDateRange 2019
publishDateSort 2019
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/69967 The viability of supported decision-making in protecting adolescent girls with intellectual disability from involuntary sterilisation in Nigeria Ngwena, Charles u28415168@tuks.co.za Ofuani, Single Irene UCTD Thesis (LLD)--University of Pretoria, 2019. The importance of promoting adolescent reproductive health rights is emerging in Nigeria. Accordingly, medical practice in terms of contraceptive decision-making is evolving such that adolescents who can understand the nature and consequences of a contraceptive treatment can be administered such treatment. Given that adolescent girls with intellectual disabilities are subjected to involuntary sterilisation on an unequal basis with their peers, the need for a strategy to promote their reproductive health and rights is undeniable. Supported decision-making is one strategy for promoting the legal capacity of adolescent girls with intellectual disabilities in terms of decision-making about contraception. The right to supported decision-making as expounded by Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities involves providing assistance to persons with disabilities, including adolescents with intellectual disabilities, to exercise their legal capacity and make decisions affecting their lives. This study therefore examines the viability of supported decision-making in protecting adolescent girls with intellectual disabilities from involuntary sterilisation in Nigeria. Utilising the social model of disability and Foucauldian perspectives, the study assesses the conceptions of intellectual disability, legal capacity and supported decision-making as well as the practicality of law and policy in guaranteeing supported decision-making for adolescent girls with intellectual disabilities. The study also employs empirical research, to interrogate the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’ interpretation of supported-decision making for adolescents with disabilities. It finds that adolescent girls with intellectual disabilities are susceptible to involuntary sterilisation in Nigeria. Secondly, the CRPD Committee provides little guidance on how to theorise supported decision-making for persons with intellectual disabilities who require extensive and pervasive support especially as regards determining their ‘will and preference’. Thirdly, the best interests’ standard and the functional approach adopted by the CRPD Committee in interpreting the implication of article 12 for children and adolescents with disabilities leaves room for abuse because the standards for determining them are indefinite. Fourthly, there is ambiguity as to the scope, models and principles of supported decision making. Accordingly, this study recommends that legislative enactment and reform is imperative not only to promote supported decision-making but also to mitigate the involuntary sterilisation adolescent girls with intellectual disabilities. It also recommends that support measures and services be provided for persons with disabilities in general, and adolescent girls with intellectual disabilities in Nigeria. The study further recommends awareness raising and public sensitisation as well as training of policy-makers and relevant stakeholders to address negative pervasive stereotypes and beliefs about persons with disabilities. Lastly, the need for evidence based research to interrogate the applicability and standards of supported decision-making for adolescents with intellectual disabilities and to contribute to the jurisprudence on supported decision-making is emphasised. Centre for Human Rights LLD Unrestricted 2019-06-02T11:39:35Z 2019-06-02T11:39:35Z 2019/04/04 2019 Thesis Ofuani, SI 2019, The viability of supported decision-making in protecting adolescent girls with intellectual disability from involuntary sterilisation in Nigeria, LLD Thesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd <http://hdl.handle.net/2263/69967> A2019 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/69967 en © 2019 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
The viability of supported decision-making in protecting adolescent girls with intellectual disability from involuntary sterilisation in Nigeria
title The viability of supported decision-making in protecting adolescent girls with intellectual disability from involuntary sterilisation in Nigeria
title_full The viability of supported decision-making in protecting adolescent girls with intellectual disability from involuntary sterilisation in Nigeria
title_fullStr The viability of supported decision-making in protecting adolescent girls with intellectual disability from involuntary sterilisation in Nigeria
title_full_unstemmed The viability of supported decision-making in protecting adolescent girls with intellectual disability from involuntary sterilisation in Nigeria
title_short The viability of supported decision-making in protecting adolescent girls with intellectual disability from involuntary sterilisation in Nigeria
title_sort viability of supported decision making in protecting adolescent girls with intellectual disability from involuntary sterilisation in nigeria
topic UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/69967