Introduction

Almost 25 years after the historic International Conference on Population Development in Cairo in 1994 and the Beijing Declaration of 1995, the world has witnessed some major developments regarding the promotion and protection of sexual and reproductive health as human rights. Issues relating to sexual and reproductive health and rights have been receiving more attention from governments across the world, including African governments. Africa remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for a woman to give birth. In many African countries, discrimination and human rights abuse of sexual minorities have continued. At the regional level, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has continued to play an important role in developing norms and standards to advance sexual and reproductive health as human rights. In 2017, the African Commission adopted a very progressive document to combat sexual violence and its consequences in Africa.