Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Africa

This book explores recent developments, constraints and opportunities relating to the advancement of sexual and reproductive health and rights in Africa. Despite many positive developments in relation to sexual and reproductive health in recent years, many Africans still encounter challenges, for instance in poor maternity services, living with HIV, and discrimination on the basis of age, gender, sexual orientation or identity. Covering topics such as abortion, gender identity, adolescent sexuality and homosexuality, the chapters in this book discuss the impact of culture, morality and social beliefs on the enjoyment of sexual and reproductive health and rights across the continent, particularly in relation to vulnerable and marginalized groups. The book also explores the role of litigation, national human rights institutions and regional human rights bodies in advancing the realization of sexual and reproductive health and rights in the region. Throughout, the contributions highlight the relevance of a rights-based framework in addressing topical and contentious issues on sexual and reproductive health and rights within Sub-Saharan Africa. This book will be of interest to researchers of sexuality, civil rights and health in Africa. The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9781003175049, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

Ebenezer Durojaye is Professor and Head of the Socio-Economic Rights Project at the Dullah Omar Institute, University of the Western Cape, South Africa. Gladys Mirugi-Mukundi is a researcher in the Socio-Economic Rights Projects at the Dullah Omar Institute, based at the University of Western Cape, South Africa. Charles Ngwena is Professor of Law, Center for Human Rights, University of Pretoria.

1. Introduction 2. Abortion and 'conscientious objection' in South Africa: The need for regulation 3. Addressing Maternal Mortality through decriminalizing abortion in Nigeria: Asking the "Woman Question" 4. Mainstreaming the 'Abortion Question' into the Right to Health in Uganda 5. Barriers to Access to Contraceptives for Adolescent Girls in Rural Zimbabwe as a Human Rights Challenge 6. It Takes Two to Tango! - The Relevance and Dilemma of Involving Men in the Realisation of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Africa 7. Positive Approaches to Childhood Sexuality and Transforming Gender Norms in Malawi 8. Addressing Female Genital Cutting/Mutilation (FGC/M) in The Gambia: Beyond Criminalisation 9. In Search of a Middle Ground: Addressing Cultural and Religious Influences on the Criminalisation of Homosexuality in Nigeria 10. A Case for Removing Barriers to Legal Recognition of Transgender Persons in Botswana 11. Advancing the Rights of Sexual and Gender Minorities under the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights: The Journey to Resolution 275 12. Lessons from Litigating for Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights in Southern Africa 13. Experiences from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights KNCHR) on the Promotion and Protection of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights 14. Monitoring implementation of the sexual and reproductive health and rights of adolescent children: the role of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child