Ngwena, Charles

Human Rights Advances in Women’s Reproductive Health in Africa

This article discusses the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights’ adoption in 2014 of General Comment No 2 to interpret provisions of Article 14 of the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Wome

Women's Access to Health Care: The Legal Framework

This article considers legal principles being adopted by states globally that help shape the scope of laws and regulations that improve access to women's reproductive and sexual health services. First, the authors stress the importance of evidence-based treatment and decision- making, unbiased by religious, political and moral beliefs. For example, emergency contraception has become increasingly available to women in countries that have embraced an evidence-based approach to creating and applying laws. Second, they identify a movement towards clearer and

An Appraisal of Abortion Laws in Southern Africa from a Reproductive Rights Persepctive

This article emphasizes that the Southern Africa Development Community Countries (SADC) are all party to international human rights agreements that urge, in strong terms, the importance of access to abortion for the physical, mental and socio-economic well-being of women. In spite of this, the author argues that most SADC countries make abortion available only under the most onerous terms and with a plethora of administrative difficulties that, combined with the critical shortage of doctors, sometimes render even abortion that meets the strict criteria impossible in practice.

Women and Trade in Canada: An Overview of Key Issues

This paper reviews some of the early concerns of womens organizations regarding the effects of trade liberalization on women, as well as different feminist responses. The author then assesses the potential implications of a deepened trade liberalization agenda under the World Trade Organization, in light of the gendered roles of Canadian women. The author focuses on the deregulation and privatization of healthcare and education, the harmonization of food safety and pesticide regulations, and the position of women entrepreneurs. [Descriptors: Economic Globalization, Canada]