Harmonisation of national sexual and reproductive health rights laws with Article 14 of the Maputo Protocol

The report finds that, while all eight countries have incorporated sexual and reproductive health rights into national health policies, significant gaps remain between legal commitments and their implementation. It identifies shared priorities for governments, civil society and regional institutions to strengthen legal protections and ensure that women and girls can exercise their rights in practice.

• Align national laws with the Maputo Protocol: Only three of the eight countries assessed, Benin, Ghana and Rwanda, have legal frameworks fully aligned with Article 14. Governments should address discriminatory or contradictory provisions in domestic legislation, remove unnecessary procedural barriers to reproductive healthcare and withdraw reservations that limit their obligations under the Protocol.
• Translate legal protections into accessible healthcare: Legal reform alone cannot guarantee access to services. Governments should increase public financing for sexual and reproductive healthcare, strengthen health facilities and ensure that providers have clear clinical guidelines. Particular attention is needed to address inequalities affecting adolescents, unmarried women and rural populations.
• Strengthen implementation and accountability: Weak monitoring systems, fragmented data and inconsistent enforcement continue to undermine progress. Governments should establish stronger mechanisms to track service delivery and health outcomes, while ensuring that national protections are consistently implemented across federal, devolved and decentralised systems.
• Address social and cultural barriers to reproductive rights: Stigma, discriminatory social norms and limited access to comprehensive sexuality education continue to restrict women and girls’ ability to exercise their rights. Civil society organisations, governments and community leaders should work together to improve public understanding of reproductive rights, challenge misinformation and support inclusive, rights-based education.
• Promote regional cooperation and shared learning: Regional institutions should strengthen monitoring of States’ compliance with Article 14 and facilitate the exchange of effective legal frameworks, policies and service delivery approaches. Greater technical assistance, coordinated advocacy and regional investment can help countries build on successful reforms and accelerate progress towards harmonisation.