1. Home
  2. Vol 26, No 12s (2022)
  3. Abubakar

Leaving no one behind: Older African women's rights to sexual and reproductive health

Ibrahim B. Abubakar(1),


(1) Department of Family Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna State
Corresponding Author

Abstract


Despite growing agreement on the importance of sexual and reproductive health and rights at all stages of human development, the link between ageing and the sexual and reproductive rights of older African women has been an overlooked topic of research and policy formulation. This commentary takes a multidisciplinary approach to highlighting older African women's sexual and reproductive health and rights, identifying extant legislative frameworks, shortcomings, and strategies to improve their implementation. An examination of the legislative frameworks in place demonstrates that they are insufficient for the full implementation of these rights. As a result, a deliberate effort is required to correct historical wrongs and preserve older women's sexual and reproductive health and rights. (Afr J Reprod Health 2022; 26 [12s]: 21-26).

References


World Health Organization. Ageing and Health. [WHO

Website]. 2021. https://www.who.int/newsroom/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health. Accessed

April 2, 2022.

United Nations. Vienna International Plan of Action on

Aging. [UN Website]. 1983.

https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/ageing/documents/R

esources/VIPEE-English.pdf. Accessed April 2,

United Nations. Political Declaration and Madrid

International Plan of Action on Ageing. [UN

Website]. 2002.

https://www.un.org/development/desa/ageing/madri

d-plan-of-action-and-its

implementation.html#:~:text=The%20Madrid%20Pl

an%20of%20Action,ensuring%20enabling%20and

%20supportive%20environments. Accessed April 2,

Aboderin I. Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of

Older Men and Women: Addressing a Policy Blind

Spot. Reproductive Health Matters. 2014; 22(44).

International Planned Parenthood Federation, IPPF. IMAP

Statement on Sexual and Reproductive Health and

Rights of the Ageing Population. 2018.

https://www.ippf.org/sites/default/files/2018-

/IMAP%20Statement%20-

%20SRHR%20of%20the%20ageing%20population.

pdf. Accessed 28 March 2022.

Rheaume C and Mitty E. Sexuality and Intimacy in Older

Adults. Geriatric Nursing. 2008; 345.

Rotberg AR. An Introduction of the Study of Women, Aging,

and Sexuality. Physical and Occupational Therapy

Association. 1987; 5.

United Nations Population Fund. ICPD Beyond 2014: Highlevel Global Commitments;2014.

United Nations. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms

of Discrimination Against Women.; 1981

Viljoen F. International Human Rights Law in Africa.

; 237.

Article 18(3). African Charter on Human and Peoples'

Rights ('Banjul Charter').;1981.

Article 18(4). African Charter on Human and Peoples'

Rights ('Banjul Charter').;1981.

Article 16(1). African Charter on Human and Peoples'

Rights ('Banjul Charter').;1981.

Article 30. African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights

('Banjul Charter').;1981.

History of the African Commission on Human and Peoples'

Rights. [AU Website]

https://www.achpr.org/history. Accessed April 2,

African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.

Principles and Guidelines on the Implementation of

Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the African

Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.;2011.

Article 66. African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights

('Banjul Charter').;1981.

African Union. The Maputo Protocol. [AU Website]

https://maputoprotocol.com/about-the-protocol.

Accessed April 1, 2022.

Article 2. Protocol to the African Charter on Human and

People's Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa

(Maputo Protocol).;2003.

Article 14. Protocol to the African Charter on Human and

People's Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa

(Maputo Protocol).;2003.

General Comments 1 on Article 14(1)(d) and (e) of Maputo

Protocol.;2012.

Article 22. Protocol to the African Charter on Human and

People's Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa

(Maputo Protocol).;2003.

Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples'

Rights on the Rights of Older Persons.; 2016.

Center for Human Rights. African Governments Urged to

Ratify the Older Persons' Protocol. 2019.

https://www.chr.up.ac.za/news-archive/2019/1928-

african-governments-urged-to-ratify-the-olderpersons-protocol. Accessed March 28, 2022.

Article 15. Protocol to the African Charter on Human and

Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Older Persons.;

Article 3. Protocol to the African Charter on Human and

Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Older Persons.;

Article 8 and 9. Protocol to the African Charter on Human

and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Older Persons.;

African Union. Sexual and Reproductive Health

Continental Framework.; 2006.

African Union Regional Economic Communities.

https://au.int/en/organs/recs. Accessed April 3, 2022.

Intergovernmental Authority on Development. SRHR

Strategic Policy Framework.; 2006.

Southern African Development Community. Declaration

on Gender and Development.; 2007.

East African Community Gender and Community

Development Framework.; 2006.

Lottes IL. Sexual Rights: Meanings, Controversies and

Sexual Health Promotion. Journal of Sex Research.

; 373.

HelpAge International. Transforming Gender Relations in

an Ageing World: A Policy Discussion Paper.;2018.

Agbonkhese R. Agenda Setting for Maternal Mortality in

Nigeria: A Comparative Study of the Media Agenda

for Maternal Mortality and HIV.

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/a45a/ed91156UAk

yVKrfsxBp1vtu37nbUwjsRF4wha.pdf. Accessed

March 24, 2022


Full Text: PDF

Article Metrics

Abstract View : 588 times
PDF Download : 288 times

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.