On this International Safe Abortion Day, we celebrate the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, also known as the Maputo Protocol, an international human rights instrument adopted by the African Union in 2003. It is noted as one of the most progressive human rights instruments globally that guarantees the rights of women and girls in Africa.

Article 14 of the protocol, in particular, provides for the sexual and reproductive health and rights of African women and girls and provides that States parties shall “protect the reproductive rights of women by authorising medical abortion.”

This year’s International Safe Abortion Day theme is “Solidarity in Action: Advance Reproductive Justice and Urgently Strengthen Health Systems for Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC).” Recognising the importance of solidarity, Akina Mama wa Afrika (AMwA) works to strengthen African feminist and SRHR movements to advance bodily autonomy and reproductive justice, monitor anti-rights strategies, and leverage regional human rights mechanisms, including the Maputo Protocol, to protect and expand reproductive rights.

Our contribution to the movement in commemoration of the International Safe Abortion Day is this powerful poem, created and performed by Samantha Ainembabazi, titled “Her Name is Protocol.”
Samantha Ainembabazi’s poem is a reminder of the importance of this protocol and for it to be a promise fulfilled. The poem is a show of solidarity with all women who are in dire need of access to health care and reproductive justice services, and in memory of all the women who died from not having access to adequate health services and safe abortion services.

Watch the poem here: https://bit.ly/HerNameisProtocol