Human rights advances in women's reproductive health in Africa.

The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights recently adopted General Comment No 2 to interpret provisions of Article 14 of the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights Women. The provisions relate to women's rights to fertility control, contraception, family planning, information and education, and abortion. The present article highlights the General Comment's potential to promote women's sexual and reproductive rights in multiple ways. The General Comment's human rights value goes beyond providing states with guidance for framing their domestic laws, practices, and policies to comply with treaty obligations. General Comment No 2 is invaluable in educating all stakeholders-including healthcare providers, lawyers, policymakers, and judicial officers at the domestic level-about pertinent jurisprudence. Civil society and human rights advocates can use the General Comment to render the state accountable for failure to implement its treaty obligations.

Who is excluded when abortion access is restricted to twelve weeks? Evidence from Maputo, Mozambique.

In Mozambique, since 1985, induced abortion services up to 12 weeks of pregnancy are performed in the interest of protecting women's health. We asked whether any women were being adversely affected by the 12-week limit. A retrospective record review of all 1,734 pregnant women requesting termination of pregnancy in five public hospitals in Maputo in 2005-2006 revealed that it tended to be those who were younger and poorer, with lower levels of education, literacy and formal employment who were coming for abortions after 12 weeks. Countries such as Mozambique that endeavor to enhance equality, equity and social justice must consider the detrimental effect of narrow gestational limits on its most vulnerable citizens and include second trimester abortions. We believe the 12-week restriction works against efforts to reduce maternal deaths due to unsafe abortion in the country.

Global policy change and women's access to safe abortion: the impact of the World Health Organization's guidance in Africa.

Along with governments from around the world, African leaders agreed at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in 1994 to address unsafe abortion as a major public health problem. At the five-year review of the ICPD, they decided further that health systems should make safe abortion services accessible for legal indications. Based on this mandate, the World Health Organization (WHO) developed norms and standards for quality abortion services, Safe Abortion: Technical and Policy Guidance for Health Systems, released in 2003. While abortion-related maternal mortality and morbidity remains very high in many African countries, stakeholders are increasingly using WHO recommendations in conjunction with other global and regional policy frameworks, including the African Union Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa, to spur new action to address this persistent problem. Efforts include: reforming national laws and policies; preparing service-delivery guidelines and regulations; strengthening training programs; and expanding community outreach programs. This paper reviews progress and lessons learned while drawing attention to the fragility of the progress made thus far and the key challenges that remain in ensuring access to safe abortion care for all African women.

Woman-centred safe abortion care in Africa.

Unsafe abortion in Africa affects not only women, but also their children, families and communities To counter this extremely costly yet easily preventable problem, African nations must ensure that health systems are trained and equipped to help prevent unwanted pregnancy, to treat women in emergency situations, and to make safe abortion services available to the full extent of the law. One critical component of this process is comprehensive woman-centred care, an approach that emphasises access, choice and quality of services. This article examines this and the obstacles to safe abortion care, as well as how they can be overcome through broad-based partnerships.

Abortion law reform in sub-Saharan Africa: no turning back.

Stigma and silence surrounded unsafe abortion in Africa until the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994. Up to five million unsafe abortions are performed in Africa every year, with young women disproportionately affected. This paper summarises the colonial origins of current abortion laws and efforts in the region to provide post-abortion care. Much as it helps to save lives, however, post-abortion care will not eliminate unsafe abortion. There is a need to do away with restrictive laws. The paper describes efforts in several countries to change the law, focusing on Kenya, where organised opposition to reforming the law has emerged and led to the arrest of three service providers. Regional bodies, including the African Union, have taken a stand on abortion within the wider context of safe motherhood and reducing maternal mortality, and advocacy for better abortion laws is increasing across the region. As more girls remain in school and the marriage age increases, the inadequate provision of family planning and abortion care will cause Africa to lose many young women through unsafe sexual activity, unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion, early childbearing and HIV infection. The time has come in Africa for a commitment to eliminate deaths and disability from unsafe abortion and respect women's right to decide the number and spacing of their children.