This report delivers a comprehensive and detailed assessment of the degree to which the national SRHR laws in eight selected African nations, specifically Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, and Uganda, are aligned with Article 14 of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol), as well as with broader regional SRHR frameworks. The Maputo Protocol stands as a landmark legal instrument for advancing women’s rights across Africa, and its Article 14 is particularly significant as it explicitly protects women’s1 right to comprehensive control over their sexual and reproductive health, including the right to abortion in certain circumstances.
The central objective of this study is to meticulously evaluate the existing legislative and policy landscapes on SRHR within these target countries to determine their respective levels of harmonisation with the Maputo Protocol. By systematically identifying the specific gaps and inconsistencies between international law and domestic legal realities, this report provides actionable insights. It is intended to be a valuable resource to support law and policy makers, civil society organisations and legal advocates in their ongoing efforts to strengthen the national legal frameworks that are essential for effectively safeguarding the health and fundamental rights of all women and girls.