In a significant development for human rights in Africa, a controversial draft charter asserting traditional family values has advanced towards policy endorsement at a recent parliamentary conference in Accra, Ghana. The proposed African charter on family, sovereignty, and values aims to reshape the continent’s legal landscape by rejecting established international human rights norms, positioning them as threats to African culture. This initiative has ignited fierce criticism from various human rights organisations and advocates for reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights.
Draft Charter’s Assertions and Objectives
The draft charter, which is backed by a coalition of conservative African lawmakers, including influential figures from Uganda, declares that African culture and values face an existential threat from “foreign ideologies.” It calls for member states to withdraw from international agreements that do not align with its principles, notably targeting the 2003 Maputo Protocol, which protects women’s reproductive health and promotes gender equity.
This proposed treaty marks a significant shift towards a legal framework that prioritises moralistic views over established rights. It inaccurately portrays sexual and reproductive health rights as detrimental to the African family structure, alleging that policies grounded in these rights advocate for unrestricted abortion access.
Critics have condemned the charter’s rejection of comprehensive sex education, branding it as a tool that sexualises children. The document also asserts a binary view of gender and revokes children’s rights in favour of parental authority regarding sexuality and discipline.
Widespread Condemnation
Legal experts and advocates from across Africa have expressed alarm over the charter’s implications. Gilbert Mitullah, a Kenyan lawyer affiliated with the Queer African Network, stated, “This charter serves as a license to undermine existing commitments to sexual and reproductive health and to dismantle important protections, such as the Maputo Protocol.”
The conference held this week is the first of its kind in Ghana, attended by representatives from 20 nations, with the aim of building momentum for the charter ahead of a vote at the African Union general assembly scheduled for February 2026. Detractors argue that the charter’s narrow definition of family, rooted solely in heterosexual marriage, fails to reflect the rich diversity of family structures across the continent’s 54 nations.
The Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA) conducted a thorough analysis of the draft and warned that prioritising family over individual rights could legitimise the subjugation of women and children, particularly in contexts of violence or discrimination. Legal officer Lakshita Kanhiya emphasised the dangers posed by such a framework, stating, “Women and children will no longer be safe.”
The Political Landscape and External Influences
The charter’s development is also indicative of a broader political trend within Africa, where anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment is being leveraged for electoral gain. Mitullah highlighted the dual function of the “family values” rhetoric, noting its role in legitimising state intrusions into private lives while simultaneously resonating with voters without facilitating substantive change.
An analysis by ISLA points to the strong influence of conservative Christian organisations from the West, which have been instrumental in shaping the language and intent of the charter. These groups often characterise progressive policies as neocolonial impositions, framing their opposition to reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ protections as a fight against cultural imperialism.
Famia Nkansa, from Purposeful, a girls’ activism organisation in Sierra Leone, articulated the view that anti-rights movements in Africa are extensions of colonial agendas, positioning the continent as a battleground for ideological and economic conflicts.
The Role of International Organisations
International organisations, such as the US-based Ipas, have raised concerns about the backing the charter has received from Family Watch International, a Christian lobbying group known for its anti-abortion stances. Sharon Slater, FWI’s co-founder, has publicly claimed that Western nations are imposing a “radical sexual rights agenda” on Africa.
Despite FWI’s assertion that the draft is entirely African-led, critics argue that it mirrors the rhetoric of Western anti-rights groups, suggesting it has been influenced by external agendas rather than truly reflecting African values and needs.
Why it Matters
The progression of this draft charter poses a significant threat to the protection of reproductive rights, gender equality, and the overall advancement of human rights in Africa. If adopted, it could undermine decades of progress towards gender equality and reproductive health, reinforcing harmful stereotypes and legal frameworks that marginalise women and LGBTQ+ communities. The outcome of the forthcoming vote at the African Union will not only shape the continent’s legal landscape but will also influence the discourse surrounding human rights, sovereignty, and cultural identity for years to come.