Africa: Advancing Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights at the ACERWC

To help advance adolescent sexual and reproductive health rights (ASRHR) across Africa, the Center for Reproductive Rights participated in the recent session of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC)—which promotes and protects children’s rights across Africa.  

At the 44^th Ordinary Session of the ACERWC, held September 29–October 9 in Maseru, Lesotho, the Center worked to influence ASRHR policies and practices and emphasized the urgent need for African states to prioritize those issues in line with the ACERWC’s African Children’s Charter, a regional human rights instrument addressing children’s issues.

The Center also participated in the Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Forum that preceded the ACERWC session. The CSO Forum convened stakeholders to discuss key child rights issues across Africa and prepare recommendations and advocacy points for the main ACERWC session.

Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Forum

At the CSO Forum, the Center led and participated in trainings and panel discussions on key ASRHR issues and helped develop recommendations to the ACERWC. Highlights of the CSO Forum include:

Safe Schools Declaration Training: Protecting Education in Conflict Zones

The Center took part in a training workshop on the “Safe Schools Declaration for the Protection of Education in Africa,” a side event facilitated by Save the Children.

The workshop aimed to:

• Raise awareness about the SSD’s impact on child protection;
• Link SSD’s principles to the African Children’s Charter; and
• Develop an advocacy engagement roadmap.

The Center highlighted the intersection of adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) and school safety, emphasizing the need for protective environments for adolescents in conflict-affected regions.

Panel Discussion: ASRHR Through the Lens of the “Four Core Principles” of the African Children’s Charter

The Center hosted a panel discussion to explore the link between ASRHR and the four core principles of the African Children’s Charter, which are:

• Non-discrimination;
• The best interests of the child;
• The right to life, survival, and development; and
• Child participation.

Featuring civil society experts and an adolescent representative and moderated by Anita Otieno, the Center’s Marshall Weinberg Global Legal Fellow for Africa, the discussion:

• Underscored barriers such as cultural norms, lack of education, and limited access to sexual and reproductive healthcare in Africa;
• Stressed the importance of non-discrimination in providing adolescents with equal access to sexual and reproductive health services, while also ensuring that their best interests are prioritized in all legal and policy frameworks.
• Called on the ACERWC to develop regional guidelines on ASRHR to provide a framework for member states to ensure adolescents’ rights are upheld.

In addition to these events, the Center’s Advocacy Adviser Gaitano Ndalo gave solidarity remarks at the CSO Forum, reiterating the Center’s support for the Forum.

44^th Ordinary Session of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC)

At the ACERWC session, the Center played a major role in promoting ASRHR issues, including by submitting a state report, presenting an oral statement, participating in an implementation hearing, and facilitating involvement by adolescent attendees.

Advocacy at the Regional Level: The Center’s Oral Statement

A key highlight of the Center’s engagement at the 44th Session was its oral statement before the ACERWC, which brought attention to the challenges adolescents face in accessing sexual and reproductive health services across Africa.

The statement:

• Emphasized the need for comprehensive policies that provide accurate information, health care, and support for ASRHR;
• Urged state parties to prioritize these issues as central to the African Children’s Charter;
• Called on the ACERWC to discourage any regression in the progress made on sexual and reproductive health rights across the region.

The statement was presented by Maria Tororey, the Center’s Advocacy Adviser for the SHE SOARS project, which works to improve access to SRHR services for out-of-school adolescent girls.

Hearing on the Implementation of the ACERWC’s Ruling on Pregnant Girls’ Education in Tanzania

Center staff, including Wanjiru Kamanda , Senior Advocacy Adviser, and Elsy Sainna, Associate Director of Advocacy and External Relations for Africa, participated in the implementation hearing of the ACERWC’s decision against the United Republic of Tanzania concerning discrimination against pregnant learners and teenage mothers. In collaboration with the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), the Center advocated for stronger policies to protect pregnant girls from expulsion and called for comprehensive sexuality education to be integrated into school curriculums.

Read the report about the implementation hearing here.

Amplifying Youth Voices: Interviews with ACERWC Members and Adolescents

The Center amplified youth voices by facilitating interviews with ACERWC members and adolescent attendees, who shared their views regarding the Committee Session and how the platform can be used to advance their sexual and reproductive health rights. The interviews revealed valuable insights into the challenges adolescents face in accessing sexual and reproductive health services and underscored the importance of including youth in decision-making processes that impact their lives.

State Report Consultations and Submissions: Kenya and Zambia

Kenya: The Center provided input on follow-up consultation on Kenya’s state reporting under the African Children’s Charter, helping to identify gaps in the country’s healthcare policies and practices, particularly in the full implementation of ASRHR. The Center expressed its commitment to working with the Kenyan government to ensure the necessary reforms are implemented.

Zambia: The Center contributed to Zambia’s state report submission by providing supplementary information through a shadow report. The report emphasized Zambia’s efforts to meet its obligations under the Charter while identifying areas for improvement, particularly regarding access to ASRHR for adolescents. The Center advocated for comprehensive sexuality education and adolescent-friendly health services to be prioritized in Zambia’s national policies.

Recommendations on ACERWC Engagement

The Center recommended continued engagement with the ACERWC to influence policy and practice on ASRHR across the continent, urging the ACERWC to continue:

• Engaging national partners at the regional level to enhance their engagement with regional human rights mechanisms;
• Collaborating with organizations that share similar interests and objectives to strengthen ASRHR advocacy across the region;
• Maintaining a strong relationship with the ACERWC to intensify efforts around ASRHR; and
• Amplifying the voices of adolescents, as they are the most affected by ASRHR policies, legislation and practices.

In addition, the ACERWC was encouraged to follow up on progress made at the regional level, including decisions on communications and reports endorsed by the Committee to prevent regression.

By making significant contributions to the 44th ACERWC session, the Center emphasized the urgent need for African states to prioritize ASRHR in line with the African Children’s Charter. By centering adolescent health and rights in its advocacy, the Center continues to drive progress towards ensuring all adolescents in Africa have access to the care, education, and support they need to thrive.