Progress in Combating Violence Against Women in Africa
On 2 May, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) is scheduled to convene its first public session since two pivotal developments in the advancement of women’s rights in Africa: the adoption by the African Union of the Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (CEVAWG), and the ACHPR’s own adoption of a landmark resolution calling for the development of guidelines to eliminate obstetric violence and promote maternal healthcare across the continent. This session presents a critical opportunity for the Commission to champion transparency and mobilise concerted action on both fronts.
The resolution on obstetric violence, adopted in March, represents a significant step towards preventing and addressing this pervasive violation of women’s and girls’ rights — including their rights to life, health, dignity, education, and bodily integrity. Obstetric violence encompasses mistreatment, abuse, and a lack of respect towards women and girls during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Such conduct contributes to alarmingly high rates of preventable maternal mortality and morbidity in Africa, as it deters many from seeking essential healthcare, thereby endangering their well-being.
Importantly, the resolution adopts a holistic approach, identifying obstetric violence as a form of gender-based violence not limited to childbirth, but extending to the broader spectrum of reproductive health services. It acknowledges that this violence may take physical, verbal, or psychological forms and has both physical and mental health consequences. The ACHPR has tasked the Working Group on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights in Africa, together with the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa, with the mandate to develop comprehensive guidelines for the elimination of obstetric violence by March 2027. Member States are encouraged to actively support and engage in this vital initiative.
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