In a significant development for human rights on the continent, Ghana has become the epicentre of a contentious conference that could reshape the landscape of sexual and reproductive rights across Africa. Led by parliamentary speaker Alban Bagbin, the gathering unveiled a draft charter that challenges long-established international human rights obligations, positioning itself as a bulwark against perceived foreign ideologies. The document posits that sexual and reproductive health rights pose an existential threat to the traditional African family structure, igniting fierce backlash from human rights advocates.
A Treaty of Division
The draft African charter on family, sovereignty, and values, presented during the annual inter-parliamentary conference in Accra, reflects a moralistic rather than a rights-based approach to legislation. It calls for African nations to withdraw from international agreements, including the 2003 Maputo Protocol, which promotes gender equality and protects women’s reproductive rights. This move has been decried as a direct affront to the advancements made in gender equality and health rights.
“This charter is an operational licence to dismantle existing commitments on sexual and reproductive health and LGBTQ+ rights,” warned Gilbert Mitullah, a Kenyan lawyer and board member of the Queer African Network. He highlighted the potential ramifications of the charter even before it is officially endorsed.
The Agenda Behind the Charter
The conference, attended by representatives from 20 countries, sought to gather enough support to present the charter to the African Union General Assembly next February. Critics argue that the charter’s definition of family, which exclusively recognises heterosexual marriage, overlooks the rich diversity of familial structures across Africa’s 54 nations. The Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA), a pan-African feminist group, asserts that prioritising the family over individual rights could legitimise the subjugation of women and children to oppressive family dynamics.
Lakshita Kanhiya, a legal officer at ISLA, voiced concerns that the charter could create an environment where women and children are rendered unsafe, as existing protections would be undermined.
The Influence of Foreign Ideologies
The draft charter has drawn criticism for its strong ties to conservative Christian organisations from the US and Europe, which have long opposed reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ freedoms. This influence is evident in the language of the charter, which distorts legitimate concerns around sovereignty and colonialism. Famia Nkansa, from the Sierra Leone-based organisation Purposeful, argued that the anti-rights agenda is merely a continuation of colonial strategies, framing Africa as a battleground for ideological conflicts.
Mitullah noted that while the charter claims to be a product of Africa, it is heavily influenced by foreign anti-rights groups, citing the Geneva Consensus Declaration—a manifesto against abortion—as a key reference. The manipulation of language and ideology raises alarms about the authenticity of the charter’s African roots.
Reactions and Future Implications
The charter has sparked outrage among human rights defenders, reproductive rights organisations, and LGBTQ+ advocates, all of whom view it as a regressive step backward. The annual conferences have reportedly received backing from organisations like Family Watch International, which has been vocal in its opposition to comprehensive sex education and reproductive rights.
In a statement, Family Watch International claimed that the draft charter is “Africa-inspired, African-initiated, and African-directed and controlled,” while simultaneously endorsing restrictions on educational programmes deemed harmful.
Why it Matters
The implications of this charter extend beyond the borders of Ghana, threatening to set a dangerous precedent for human rights across the continent. As nations grapple with the tension between cultural values and universal rights, the potential adoption of this charter would signal a significant regression in the fight for equality and justice. The ongoing struggle for sexual and reproductive health rights in Africa hangs in the balance, making this issue not just a regional concern, but a pivotal moment in the global human rights narrative.
