The contribution of Uganda's Constitutional Court Petition No 16 Judgment to the right of access to quality emergency obstetric care under international law

Abstract

On 19 August 2020, the Constitutional Court of Uganda handed down a landmark judgment on maternal health rights in Uganda. This judgment held that the State of Uganda was responsible for violating the right to health, non-discrimination, life and inhuman and degrading treatment of women under international law and Ugandan constitutional law for its failure by omission to provide basic emergency obstetric care in public facilities. This article examines the contribution of the Constitutional Petition No 16 judgment to the strengthening of women's reproductive health rights. By rejecting the “lack of resources” defence when complying with minimum core obligations under progressive realization in the provision of emergency obstetric services, the court makes an important contribution to the limited but growing body of jurisprudence holding governments accountable for a failure to ensure the protection of women's sexual and reproductive rights at both domestic and international levels.