Litigating Reproductive Justice in Africa (LIRA) Programme
Introduction
In its strategic plan (2022 – 2032), Ahaki delineated themes that inform its programs of work. Under the Historical, Social and Political Determinants of SRHR (SRHR) theme, Ahaki developed a program of work titled “Litigating Reproductive Justice in Africa (LIRA)“, which is aimed at establishing, strengthening and sustaining a regional network advancing reproductive justice litigation to ensure access to SRHR in Africa. This programme seeks to front the shift from reproductive choice to reproductive justice in advancing SRHR in the region. This will be achieved through, among others, the utilization of national, sub-regional and regional litigation foras. This programme will be implemented in selected countries in three regions including; East Africa, West Africa and Southern Africa.
BENEFICIARIES: Judicial Officers, Law Enforcement Officers, Scholars and academia, Vulnerable Groups (Women and Girls), SRHR Service Providers, Human Rights Providers, University Students, African Civil Society Organizations, Lawyers, and Learning Institutions.
KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTS
- 2025 Reproductive Justice Litigation Baraza Report
- 2024 Reproductive Justice Litigation Baraza Report
- 2024 Reproductive Justice Litigation Baraza Conclusion Statement
- USING REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE TO LITIGATE THE RIGHT TO HAVE A CHILD IN THE AFRICAN REGION: A Focus on Maternal Mortality
- Lessons learnt from Abortion Jurisprudence in Africa: Laying a foundation for Reproductive Justice
- BEYOND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS Critical reflections on Reproductive Justice in Eastern and Southern Africa
- TOWARDS A REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE FRAMEWORK
- Enforcement of Maternal Health Rights in Uganda
- Regional Reproductive Justice Alliance Consensus Statement
- Reproductive Justice Litigation Baraza Report
- EXPLAINER: The procedure and fora for filing SRHR cases at a regional level in Africa
- EXPLAINER: Reproductive Choice V Reproductive Justice
- MAPPING TOOL: The regional procedure and fora for SRHR litigation in Africa
- Litigating sexual and reproductive health in Africa
- KEYNOTE ADDRESS by Lady Justice Honorable Prof Lillian Tibatemwa
The programme has four (4) objectives and these are highlighted below;
- To research, document and disseminate positive African narratives on litigating access to SRHR
- To enhance capacities of African organizations towards litigating access to SRHR
- To identify, support and sustain a network of African experts and individuals advancing reproductive justice
- To undertake and support strategic and public interest litigations at domestic, sub-regional and regional level, to advance access to SRHR
To create an environment where Africa embraces reproductive justice through progressive, evidence based and collaborative litigation for access to SRHR.
Abortion Litigation in Africa
Litigating abortion rights on the continent is fraught with difficulty, with restrictive legal regimes, political hurdles, and hostile social attitudes that would forestall the implementation of any court decisions; the absence of indigenous jurisprudence and failures by judges and lawyers, as well as the preference by stakeholders to rely on non-adversarial means to realize progress on what is a hot-button political and socio-cultural issue. This is indeed the reason for the absence of abortion litigation in the Litigating Reproductive Justice in Africa (LIRA) Programme focus countries. Excluding criminal prosecutions and undecided litigation that are a preserve of the state and which rarely, if ever, are based on human rights, there are only four decided constitutional or civil cases in the six LIRA Programme focus countries.
The programme interventions are purposively designed to contribute to the reproductive justice litigation agenda as well as the overall programme goal of creating an environment where Africa embraces reproductive justice through progressive, evidence based and collaborative litigation for access to (SRHR) as indicated below;
