A draft African charter on ‘family values’ is on the cards: why it’s flawed and dangerous

May 21, 2026
Catriona Macleod, Godfrey Kangaude, Nicola Jearey-Graham

A series of conferences held in Entebbe, Uganda, between 2023 and 2025 have resulted in a draft African Charter on Family, Sovereignty and Values. The meetings were organised by the Inter-parliamentary Network on African Sovereignty and Values, which organises continental conferences for African legislators and faith-based advocates. Supported by international conservative groups like Family Watch International and heavily promoted by Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni, the aim of the drafters of the charter is to convince African governments to sign on to it.

The draft charter is situated within the current global movement to the right, which prioritises nationalism, tougher immigration policies and an erosion of social values like gender equity. Framed as an effort to “protect” the family, it urges governments to adopt a series of regressive measures.

Continued: https://theconversation.com/a-draft-african-charter-on-family-values-is-on-the-cards-why-its-flawed-and-dangerous-282423


Health advocates in Africa worry Trump will reimpose abortion ‘gag rule’ governing US aid

Women's health advocates in Africa are worried that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will again invoke the so-called global gag rule, a policy that cuts off U.S. government funding for groups that offer abortion-related services

By FARAI MUTSAKA Associated Press
November 19, 2024

EPWORTH, Zimbabwe -- Carrying her infant daughter, 19-year-old Sithulisiwe Moyo waited two hours to get birth-control pills from a tent pitched in a poor settlement on the outskirts of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare.

The outreach clinic in Epworth provides Moyo with her best shot at achieving her dream of returning to school. “I am too young to be a baby-making machine," she said. "At least this clinic helps me avoid another pregnancy.”

But the free service funded by the U.S. government, the world’s largest health donor, might soon be unavailable.

Continued: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/health-advocates-africa-worry-trump-reimpose-abortion-gag-116036473


South Africa – Why black market abortion methods still in high demand despite it being legal

Why black market abortion methods still in high demand despite it being legal

29 January 2019

In South Africa abortion on demand has been legally available since February 1997 but still, there are reports of women dying of illegal abortion in the black market.

One argument is that black market tablets are easily available on the street for women and girls who wa

Continued: http://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/335814/why-black-market-abortion-methods-still-in-high-demand-despite-it-being-legal


South Africa – ABORTION & REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE CONFERENCE – Rhodes University to host critical dialogues in reproductive justice

ABORTION & REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE CONFERENCE – Rhodes University to host critical dialogues in reproductive justice
May 18, 2018
by International Campaign for Women's Right to Safe Abortion

Rhodes University’s Critical Studies in Sexualities and Reproduction (CSSR) research programme will be co-hosting a flagship conference to address abortion and reproductive justice issues in July.

In cooperation with the Sexual and Reproductive Justice Coalition of South Africa, the International Campaign for Women’s Right to Safe Abortion, the South African Department of Social Development, and the Open Society Foundations, the conference – Abortion & Reproductive Justice: The Unfinished Revolution III – will take place from 8–12 July 2018 at Rhodes’ Barrat Lecture Theatre Complex.

Continued: http://www.safeabortionwomensright.org/abortion-reproductive-justice-conference-rhodes-university-to-host-critical-dialogues-in-reproductive-justice/