In Focus: Uganda

The Center for Reproductive Rights has embarked on a series of new projects in Uganda as part of its wider work in the African region. Working to highlight reproductive rights violations in the country, the Center has researched and submitted two shadow letters on the current state of reproductive rights in Uganda.  One letter was submitted to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the other, in partnership with the Uganda Association of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Uganda), was submitted to the CEDAW Committee.  The Center has also embarked upon a project to map Uganda’s abortion laws and policies, in order to dispel myths and misconceptions about the law on abortion.

As in many other countries with unclear abortion laws, most Ugandans, including women, healthcare providers, lawyers, and advocates for women’s health, are largely unaware of when and under what circumstances abortion services can be legally provided and what types of providers (nurses, midwives, doctors, clinical officers) can offer these services.  Most people believe abortion is completely illegal.

The Center has conducted extensive research, which includes reviewing relevant policies and training manuals, analyzing laws and court cases, and interviewing lawyers and healthcare providers in Uganda. Our findings revealed that the legal and policy framework is much more expansive than most people believe and that opportunities exist for providing safe and legal abortion services in Uganda.

Below are resources that assist and support the Center’s ongoing work in Uganda to increase access to reproductive rights:

10 Key Points About Uganda’s Laws and Policies on Termination of Pregnancy

This factsheet outlines 10 key facts about Uganda’s abortion law.  It can be a useful tool for advocates, healthcare providers, media, and government officials to help clarify the law and dispel widespread misconceptions about what the law says and requires.

Uganda Shadow Letter &, Concluding Observations: CEDAW 2010

This resource contains the full shadow letter submitted to the CEDAW Committee in 2010, along with the resulting concluding observations from the Committee as well as concluding observations from the African Commission during their most recent review of Uganda.

Shadow letter to African Commission: 2008

This shadow letter was submitted to the African Commission in 2008 and highlights key reproductive rights violations in Uganda.