Socio-Economic Rights Project (SERP)
Permanent URI for this collection
The Socio-Economic Rights Project, which focuses on the realization of the socio-economic rights of groups and communities living in poverty.
Browse
Browsing by Subject "African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights"
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the promotion and protection of sexual and reproductive rights(African Human Rights Law Journal, 2011) Victoria, Balogun; Ebenezer, DurojayeThe article examines the activities of the African Commission with regard to the advancement of sexual and reproductive health and rights in Africa. The article reviews the importance of applying human rights to sexual and reproductive health issues. It further discusses the promotional and protective mandates of the African Commission with a view to ascertaining whether the Commission has given attention to addressing the sexual and reproductive health challenges facing the region. In this regard, the paper focuses on two important issues - maternal mortality and same-sex relationships. Based on careful analyses of the promotional and protective mandates of the Commission, it is argued that some efforts have been made towards advancing reproductive health and rights in Africa. However, much more effort is needed with regard to sexual health and rights, especially with regard to issues such as same-sex relationships, sex work and violence against women. In conclusion, some suggestions are provided on the role of the African Commission in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights in the region.Item Developing norms and standards on maternal mortality in Africa: lessons from UN human rights bodies(African Human Rights Yearbook, 2017) Onyema, Afulukwe-Eruchalu; Ebenezer, DurojayeThe African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Protocol to the African Charter Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (African Women’s Rights Protocol) contain useful provisions for addressing maternal mortality as a human rights violation. In addition, the African Union and its organs have recognised maternal mortality as a violation of the rights of women in Africa through initiatives such as the Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa; the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Commission) Resolution 135 on Maternal Mortality in Africa; as well as the African Commission’s General Comment on the Right to Life. Both the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Commission are now set to apply these frameworks in their jurisprudence and engagements with States. However, despite these developments, a significant number of African women die every year due to complications arising from pregnancy or childbirth. These deaths are avoidable if African governments have lived up to their obligations under international and regional human rights instruments. This article addresses pertinent experiences from the United Nations human rights system and analyses the key lessons learned from their approaches to addressing maternal mortality as a human rights issue, to strengthen the African system’s jurisprudence and legal frameworks.