In a significant development for human rights in Africa, a controversial draft charter that seeks to redefine family values and reject established international human rights norms is gaining traction. This week, representatives from across the continent convened in Accra, Ghana, for the annual inter-parliamentary conference on family, sovereignty, and values, where they discussed the charter’s implications. The initiative, largely driven by lawmakers from Uganda, has been met with widespread condemnation from human rights advocates and legal experts who view it as a regressive step for sexual and reproductive rights.
A Shift in Legal Framework
The proposed African charter asserts that foreign ideologies threaten the cultural fabric of African societies. It calls for nations to withdraw from international treaties that conflict with its principles, including the 2003 Maputo Protocol, which promotes gender equality and safeguards reproductive health rights. This charter marks a pioneering effort to establish a continent-wide legal framework rooted in moralistic values rather than a rights-based approach.
Critics argue that the charter inaccurately characterises sexual and reproductive health rights as detrimental to the African family structure. It dismisses comprehensive sex education as inappropriate and insists that gender is strictly binary. Moreover, the charter posits that parental rights should take precedence over children’s rights regarding matters of sexuality and discipline.
Reactions from Human Rights Advocates
Legal experts and advocates for LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights have expressed grave concerns over the charter’s implications. Gilbert Mitullah, a Kenyan lawyer and member of the Queer African Network, described the charter as “a licence to oppose, regress on, or refuse to implement existing commitments on sexual and reproductive health, and on LGBTQ rights.” He warned of its potential to undermine the Maputo Protocol from within, even before it is formally adopted.
The Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA), a pan-African feminist initiative, has conducted a thorough analysis of the draft, arguing that prioritising family structures over individual rights could legitimise the oppression of women and children. The group’s legal officer, Lakshita Kanhiya, voiced concerns that such a framework could leave vulnerable populations without protection from violence or discrimination.
The Influence of Conservative Groups
The charter’s language and objectives reflect the influence of conservative Christian organisations, particularly those from the US and Europe, which oppose abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. Critics assert that this document is a manifestation of neo-colonialism, with Africa being positioned as a battleground for ideological conflict rather than a space for indigenous rights and values. Famia Nkansa, communications lead at Purposeful, a Sierra Leone-based organisation, highlighted that anti-rights initiatives echo colonial tactics, suggesting that Africa is once again being used for the West’s ideological and economic battles.
Mitullah further elaborated on this point, stating, “The charter is not a continental instrument that happens to share vocabulary with western anti-rights groups. It is a transplant.” He noted that the charter’s text references the Geneva Consensus Declaration, an anti-abortion document associated with former Trump adviser Valerie Huber, indicating a collaborative effort across borders to impose restrictive measures on reproductive rights.
The Path Ahead
The conference in Ghana, attended by representatives from 20 countries, aimed to build momentum for the charter ahead of its presentation to the African Union’s general assembly in February 2026, where it will be subject to a vote. However, critics argue that the charter’s narrow definition of family, based exclusively on heterosexual marriage, fails to reflect the diverse family structures present in Africa’s 54 nations.
As the debate intensifies, advocates for human rights continue to urge African governments to uphold commitments to gender equality and individual freedoms. The potential adoption of this charter could have far-reaching implications, not only for reproductive rights but also for the broader landscape of human rights across the continent.
Why it Matters
The advancement of this charter represents a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for human rights in Africa. If adopted, it could significantly undermine progress made in gender equality and reproductive rights, placing vulnerable populations at even greater risk. The charter’s rejection of established human rights norms in favour of a narrow, moralistic framework raises critical questions about the future of individual freedoms and the role of international agreements in safeguarding those rights. As African nations navigate these complex issues, the global community watches closely, recognising that the outcomes of this debate will resonate well beyond the continent.
