Edited by Charles Ngwena, Ebenezer Durojaye, Satang Nabaneh, Nkatha Murungi, 2025
From the Introduction
Despite notable legal and policy advancements in post-colonial Africa, unsafe abortion remains a pressing public health concern. Abortion Law Reform in Africa: A Reproductive Health and Rights Perspective, spearheaded by the late Professor Charles Ngwena, offers a vital and timely examination of this ongoing challenge. This collection of essays moves beyond a mere analysis of legal texts, unpacking the deep-rooted barriers that continue to limit access to safe abortion services in Africa. The authors critically assess the real-world impact of current reforms, highlighting their shortcomings in providing accessible, rights-based care. They offer concrete strategies aimed at strengthening legal and policy frameworks to promote reproductive autonomy, improve reproductive health outcomes, and advance gender equality for women and girls confronting unwanted pregnancies. Through a compelling exploration of how restrictive laws push countless women towards unsafe procedures – often with fatal or debilitating consequences – the volume underscores that meaningful reform demands more than legislative change. It calls for addressing the broader social, economic, and cultural determinants that restrict access to abortion care. By advocating for the implementation of progressive instruments such as the African Women’s Protocol, this book stands as a powerful call to action for African policymakers and stakeholders to facilitate access to safe abortion care services. It urges the adoption of comprehensive and transformative measures that can truly secure women’s rights to safe abortion and prevent needless suffering and death.
Article titles and authors: https://www.pulp.up.ac.za/latest-publications/abortion-law-reform-in-africa-a-reproductive-health-and-rights-perspective
Countries covered: South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tunisia, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Mozambique, closing with an article on Charles Ngwena’s views on taking women’s rights seriously.
ISBN: 978-1-0672371-6-5
Pages: 331
Print version: Available
Electronic version: Free PDF available
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