As Africa prepares to commemorate Human Rights Day on October 21, 2024, civil society organizations across the continent are calling on African governments to fulfill their commitments to providing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education for adolescents. This comes at a crucial time as Sub-Saharan Africa, with over 226 million adolescents, represents the largest global adolescent population, a figure expected to double by 2050.
Speaking at the event, Denis Bwana, SRHR Program Officer at the Eastern Africa National Networks of AIDS Service Organizations (EANNASO), emphasized the urgency of accessible education, stating the need for educating adolescents to enable them to take care of themselves.
“It will be unfair if we have information that can help them make better decisions and we do not share it with them,” he said
In line with this, the Solutions for Supporting Healthy Adolescents Rights and Protection (SHARP) project partners will issue a call to action on October 21, 2024.
The appeal urges African nations that have yet to ratify the Maputo Protocol to fulfill their obligations. This landmark treaty, which guarantees women’s rights across Africa, includes provisions for health and education that are critical for adolescent SRH education.
The call to action will be open to civil society organizations (CSOs), the private sector, and individuals, encouraging them to support advocacy efforts for SRH education, particularly for girls.
Robert Athewa, SRH Lead at the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI), reaffirmed the necessity of action, saying, health is a right, and education is a human right too.
“As NANHRI, we are mandated to ensure every African child’s right is protected,” he noted
Zambia’s Progress and Gaps in SRH Education
Zambia offers a glimpse of progress in the field of SRH education. In 2013, the country developed a comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) framework, now integrated into various subjects under the Life Skills and Health Education (LSHE) curriculum.
The CSE program was introduced as part of the Eastern and Southern African (ESA) commitments to improve health outcomes for young people.
However, despite this initiative, significant challenges remain. Inadequate information on sexual reproduction has contributed to persistently high levels of early marriage among young girls, underscoring the need for sustained advocacy and education efforts.
Focus on the Maputo Protocol and Its Key Articles
This year’s Africa Human Rights Day aligns with the African Union’s 2024 theme, “Educate and Skill Africa for the 21st Century.”
SHARP project partners from the Great Lakes Region will spotlight two key articles from the Maputo Protocol: Right to Education and Training (Article XII), which promotes specific actions to boost the enrollment and retention of girls in schools and training institutions, and Health and Reproductive Rights (Article XIV), which mandates African governments to provide adequate, affordable and accessible health services, including SRH education, particularly for women and girls in rural areas.
The Maputo Protocol, adopted in 2003, is one of the most progressive instruments for advancing women’s rights in Africa. However, its implementation remains inconsistent across the continent, leaving adolescents, particularly girls, without the SRH information they need.
Celine Bankumuhari, Head of External Relations and Advocacy at Faith to Action, stressed the importance of accountability noting that African governments appended their signature on the Maputo Protocol and they just need to deliver what they promised.
As civil society groups intensify their advocacy ahead of Africa Human Rights Day, the message is clear: it is time for African governments to prioritize the sexual and reproductive health of their adolescent populations. By fully implementing the Maputo Protocol, they can ensure a healthier, more informed generation of African youth.
