"It is my body, so I decide" A multidisciplinary approach to the interpretation of article 14 of the protocol to the African charter on the rights of women in Africa

Abstract

Although much has been written and discussed on the African Women’s Protocol in recent years, a number of misinterpretations and ambiguities remains regarding the source and scope of the specific rights enshrined in this revolutionary Protocol. From a legal perspective, the author singles out the provision of article 14 of the African Women’s Protocol (sexual and reproductive health rights) and begins with the tricky issue of identifying four aspects namely non-discrimination, abortion, informed consent and HIV/AIDS which in his opinion are fundamental to the protection and promotion of women’s sexual and reproductive health rights. Thereafter, with the help of case law, the author reviews the legal interpretations of these four aspects by some African, American, and Asian courts. At the UN level, decisions of the CEDAW Committee and the Human Rights Council are also reviewed. Of practical interest, reflecting on the four aspects, the author explores the interpretative approach of different social sciences such as sociology, anthropology and psychology in an attempt to introduce a multidisciplinary approach that could supplement legal interpretation and understanding of women’s sexual and reproductive health rights.