The recent conference in Accra, Ghana, has brought to the forefront a contentious draft charter that challenges established international human rights norms, particularly concerning sexual and reproductive rights. Spearheaded by Alban Bagbin, Ghana’s parliamentary speaker, the proposed African charter asserts that the continent’s cultural integrity is under siege from external influences. This initiative has drawn sharp criticism from human rights advocates who fear it may undermine existing protections for women, children, and LGBTQ+ individuals across Africa.
A Shift Towards Moralistic Governance
The draft charter, described as the first of its kind to advocate for a continent-wide legal framework rooted in conservative values, posits that sexual and reproductive health rights pose an existential threat to the traditional African family. It calls for member states to withdraw from international agreements that do not align with its principles, notably the 2003 Maputo Protocol, which champions gender equality and safeguards reproductive health rights for women and girls.
Critics have condemned the charter’s approach as regressive, arguing that it prioritises a restrictive definition of family based solely on heterosexual marriage, thereby disregarding the diversity of familial structures that exist across Africa’s 54 nations. The Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA) notes that the charter could legitimise the subservience of women and children to the interests of the family unit, effectively insulating private family matters from state scrutiny, particularly in cases of violence or discrimination.
The Conference and Its Implications
The inter-parliamentary conference, which took place for the first time in Ghana, aimed to rally support for the charter from representatives of 20 African nations. This initiative, led by Ugandan ministers, seeks to advance the charter to a vote at the upcoming African Union general assembly in February 2026. The overarching goal is to establish a framework that aligns with conservative values while rejecting what proponents describe as “foreign ideologies” that threaten African sovereignty.
Gilbert Mitullah, a Kenyan lawyer and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, highlighted the charter’s potential to undermine existing commitments to sexual and reproductive health. He remarked that it acts as a “licence to oppose” established rights and dismantle protections enshrined in documents like the Maputo Protocol. This sentiment echoes broader concerns that the charter’s adoption could lead to a significant rollback of rights and protections for vulnerable populations.
Resistance from Human Rights Advocates
Human rights groups across the continent have reacted with alarm to the implications of the draft charter. Advocates argue that it reflects the influence of conservative Christian organisations from the West, which have long opposed abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. Famia Nkansa, communications lead at Purposeful, a Sierra Leone-based initiative focused on girls’ activism, described the charter as an extension of colonial ideologies, framing anti-rights activities as a battleground for ideological and economic conflicts initiated by Western powers.
The ISLA’s analysis of the charter points to a manipulation of legitimate concerns regarding sovereignty and colonialism, suggesting that genuine debates are being distorted to further a conservative agenda. Concerns about sexual education, family rights, and gender identity are being used as political tools to garner support, often at the expense of individual rights.
The Backlash Against Comprehensive Sex Education
Among the most contentious aspects of the charter is its outright rejection of comprehensive sex education (CSE). The document alleges that such educational programmes sexualise children, an assertion that has been vehemently contested by experts in the field. Critics argue that CSE is crucial for empowering young people with knowledge about their bodies, consent, and healthy relationships, thus promoting overall societal wellbeing.
The draft charter’s stance on gender identity is equally controversial, asserting a binary view that does not acknowledge non-binary or gender-fluid identities. This limited perspective further marginalises LGBTQ+ individuals and reinforces harmful stereotypes that can lead to discrimination and violence.
Why it Matters
The implications of the draft African charter on family values extend far beyond the immediate context of the conference in Ghana. Should it be adopted, it could set a precedent for the erosion of hard-won human rights across the continent, particularly for women and LGBTQ+ communities. The charter not only risks dismantling existing protections but also threatens to entrench regressive norms that deny individuals their fundamental rights to health, education, and self-determination. The unfolding debate serves as a critical reminder of the ongoing struggle between progressive and conservative forces in Africa, with the potential to shape the continent’s socio-political landscape for generations to come.
