Cultural Relativism and Reproductive Rights: African Perspectives

Course in the Module "Legal Cultures & Non-Western Law in a Comparative Framework" (3 ECTS)

The course is designed to enable graduates in the social sciences, law, humanities and related disciplines explore and understand the human rights issues and impacts of women's reproductive health and rights from a cross cultural perspective. It is designed to reflect the peculiar cultural contexts of human rights protection in the areas of reproductive health, particularly women's reproductive and sexual health, and the accompanying tensions and challenges in Africa that are often highlighted in cases of violation or non-implementation of international guidelines, laws, conference proceedings and regulations.

The cultural and relativist dynamics of human rights protection in access to safe abortions, maternal health care, availability of, and access to, contraception and family planning, prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV and AIDS, protection from gender-based violence and harmful traditional practices including female genital mutilation, and the protection of sexual identities including the sexual rights of LGBTQ+ communities outline the major issues for discussions and comparative analyses.

The course content is reflective of, and emanates from, an African perspective, often using Nigeria (my home country) as a typical case study. The overall aim is to equip international students with the capacity to appreciate and understand the dynamics of human rights protection in reproductive health matters from a gendered, African perspective.

In achieving the above, the course synopsis and methodology will include socio-legal research and analysis of international human rights that are relevant to reproductive health issues, especially those of women. Key human rights in this regard are found in universal and regional treaties, covenants, conferences and international instruments that highlight protection and provision of reproductive health care, either directly or indirectly.