Maternal, Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights in Africa
The African continent has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world with 15,000 preventable deaths due to unsafe abortions and one in five adolescents becoming pregnant before the age of 19, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights. While induced abortion is medically safe when WHO-recommended methods are used by trained persons, the Guttmacher Institute reports that an estimated 93% of women of reproductive age in Africa live in countries with restrictive abortion laws. Considering Africa’s reliance on international development aid from the United States and the recent Supreme Court reversal of Roe v Wade this panel will discuss what impact, if any, this has had on maternal, sexual, and reproductive rights on girls and women in Africa.
Speakers:
- Linda Gibson (moderator), Nottingham Trent University
- Satang Nabaneh, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria
- Charles Ngwena, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria
- Onikepe Owolabi, IntraHealth International
This event is organized by ASIL’s Africa Interest Group and co-sponsored by the Women in International Law Interest Group.