Women of the world: laws and policies affecting their reproductive lives: anglophone Africa: progress report 2001

Reproductive rights are internationally recognized as critical both to advancing women's human rights and to promoting development. Governments from all over the world have, in recent years, both acknowledged and pledged to advance reproductive rights to an unprecedented degree. But for governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and concerned advocates to work towards reforming laws and policies so as to implement the mandates of these international conferences, they must be informed about the current state of national level formal laws and policies affective reproductive rights. This book on Anglophone Africa is the product of a unique series of collaborative reports between the U.S.-based Center for Reproductive Law and Policy and national-level NGOs around the world. CRLP and NGOs in have surveyed laws and policies in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe with respect to the following issues: * Governmental health and population policies with an emphasis on general issues relating to women's status; * Laws and policies regarding contraception, abortion, sterilization, FGM, HIV/AIDS, and other sexually-transmitted diseases; * Women's status as it relates to: marriage (including divorce and custody), property rights, labor rights, credit, education, and the right to physical integrity; * Reproductive health and rights of adolescents, including segments on female genital mutilation, marriage, sex education, and sexual offenses against minors; * Customary and religious laws regarding women's status. Reproductive rights are internationally recognized as critical both to advancing women's human rights and to promoting development. Governments from all over the world have, in recent years, both acknowledged and pledged to advance reproductive rights to an unprecedented degree. But for governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and concerned advocates to work towards reforming laws and policies so as to implement the mandates of these international conferences, they must be informed about the current state of national level formal laws and policies affecting reproductive rights.

The Center for Reproductive Law and Policy’s Women of the World book series offers a comprehensive review of the laws and policies related to reproductive health and rights in different regions of the world. This particular report sets forth national laws and policies in key areas of reproductive health and women’s empowerment in seven Anglophone African countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.

WOWAA01......Page 1 WOWAA02......Page 14 WOWAA03......Page 32 WOWAA04......Page 56 WOWAA05......Page 79 WOWAA06......Page 95 WOWAA07......Page 119 WOWAA08......Page 137 WOWAA09......Page 161 1. Introduction 2. Ethiopia 3. Ghana 4. Kenya 5. Nigeria 6. South Africa 7. Tanzania 8. Zimbabwe 9. Regional trends in reproductive rights.