Since 1997, the Center’s Africa Program has advanced reproductive rights across several countries by litigating court cases, advocating for legal reform, and setting new human rights standards in the region. With a regional office in Nairobi since 2011, the program has worked with courts, human rights bodies, and the African Union to secure landmark legal victories that expand women’s and girls’ reproductive rights–including access to contraceptives, safe abortion services, and maternal health care.
Sub-Saharan Africa faces the highest maternal mortality rates globally, with significant challenges in reproductive health access.
533/100K
The maternal mortality rate in sub-Saharan Africa—the highest rate in the world.
6.2 M
Unsafe abortions each year in sub-Saharan Africa–resulting in 15,000 preventable deaths.
1 in 5
Adolescents become pregnant before the age of 19.
Our approach to advancing sexual and reproductive rights
Using human rights and reproductive justice frameworks, the Center partners with lawyers, activists, and regional human rights groups to secure guaranteed rights for all—especially marginalized communities that face barriers to health care and justice. It also strengthens the sexual and reproductive rights movement in the region by fostering solidarity and collaborating with diverse stakeholders.
Our fight for reproductive rights and maternal health care in Africa
Explore key issues and milestones shaping reproductive rights and health across Africa. From teenage pregnancy and abortion laws to maternal health victories and new efforts for change, these stories show both the challenges and progress being made.
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About one in five adolescent girls in Africa become pregnant before 19. In 24 countries, this rate goes over 25%. These girls often face societal backlash, encounter discrimination, stigma, and rejection from family, peers, and healthcare or education providers.
In 2010, Kenya voted to adopt a new constitution that recognizes health as a fundamental right, which includes abortion, post-abortion care, and emergency medical treatment. The 2010 Constitution enshrined abortion rights in law, marking a promising turning point for reproductive rights in the country.
In response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade and their potential impact on sexual and reproductive health for women and girls in Africa, a coalition of key organizations came together to preserve the hard-won gains and expand access to abortion services in Africa.
These organizations initiated a broad consultation process leading to the formation in June 2024 of Catalysts, a coalition spearheaded by five prominent organizations:
The Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR)
International Planned Parenthood Foundation-Africa Regional Office (IPPFAR)
Ipas Africa Alliance (AA)
Population Council – Kenya
The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)
The goal of Catalysts is to develop a coordinated strategy to advance abortion rights and care in Africa, leveraging diverse expertise and resources to drive meaningful change. Learn More Here
In a significant victory for all Kenyans, the Court of Appeal of Kenya affirmed the right to respectful maternal health care in the case of Josephine Majani—a pregnant woman who was denied quality maternal health care, physically and verbally abused by hospital staff, and left to deliver her baby on a concrete hospital floor.
This case set a precedent in affirming the right to the highest attainable standard of health as outlined in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
Learn more about the Center’s work advancing reproductive rights in Africa.
