REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH LAW AND POLICY: LEGAL REFORMS IN THE AFRICAN SUB - REGION

• Authors: Aniekwu Nkolika Ijeoma , Uzodike Eunice Nkiru
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Generally, law aims to achieve behaviours and actions that promote public good or limit harmful consequences to individuals. Reproductive health laws are legislative instruments by which states regulate reproductive health practices, and give effect to reproductive health policies. The emergence of concepts of reproductive health and rights that require implementation by pragmatic legal rules often presents special challenges to religious and moral authorities especially in African countries. In sub Saharan Africa, certain societal and cultural factors are increasingly being recognised as severely compromising women's health and well - being, and the need for principle -based legal provisions on reproductive and sexual health in national laws and Constitutions that would express the obligations entrenched in international instruments and human rights law have never been more paramount. This paper looks at the emerging developments in reproductive health law and policy in the African sub - region, and the impact of legislative reforms on gender specific issues such as abortion, female genital mutilation, harmful traditional practices, sexual and domestic violence.

Keywords

EN

ABORTION; FGM; GENDER; LAW; REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH; SUB SAHARAN AFRICA

Discipline

• LAW_&_ADMINISTRATION: LAW & ADMINISTRATION

• Publisher: Instytut Kultur Śródziemnomorskich i Orientalnych PAN
• Journal: Hemispheres. Studies on Cultures and Societies
• Year: 2008
• Issue: 23
• Pages: 41-48
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Aniekwu Nkolika Ijeoma

author

Uzodike Eunice Nkiru

• Nkolika Ijeoma Aniekwu, Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

09PLAAAA06352