On 15 – 19 May 2023, the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria (the Centre) hosted an Advanced Human Rights Course on Women's Rights in Africa.

The Maputo Protocol is one of the most progressive human rights documents that directly addresses women's health concerns in an unprecedented manner, as compared to other human rights instruments. Of particular significance is the bold approach of the Protocol to women's sexual and reproductive health rights, including rights in the context of HIV, and the right to access safe abortion. The Protocol is, therefore, a potent tool for advancing the rights of women in general, and their Sexual and Reproductive and Health Rights (SRHR) in particular. Despite this huge potential to advance the rights of women in Africa, awareness of the content and value of the Maputo Protocol remains largely limited.

It is in response to this gap that the Centre convened 124 participants, drawn from 27 countries. The participants represented a wide range of professional backgrounds and interests, including academics and researchers, individual human rights activists, representatives of civil society organisations, public officials, judicial officers, and policymakers.

In light of tackling the challenges to the realisation of sexual and reproductive rights in Africa, the 2023 edition of the course had a keen focus on SRHR.  The Course was presented by a rich faculty of instructors including senior academics, researchers, litigators, and other women's rights practitioners.

By the end of the short course, participants managed to realise the gaps and opportunities in sexual and reproductive health rights of women on the continent as they were introduced to best practices for domestic protection of women's rights relating to SRH. Participants pledged to create awareness of best practices on SRHR in their different working spaces to implement changes in their societies. The Centre, thus hopes that the African continent soon will develop, implement and evaluate effective policies and strategies related to sexual and reproductive health to improve SRH's outcomes throughout these women's life cycle and ensure universal coverage


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