17TH – 18TH APRIL, 2023
NAIROBI – KENYA
NANHRI organized a regional sensitization workshop in April 17th-18th around the legal frameworks on adolescent sexual reproductive health and rights in the African Continent.
The objective of the workshop was to assist participants with the technical support to undertake national, regional and international level interventions to support State Parties in achieving progressive realization of adolescent sexual and reproductive health rights. It sought to sensitize participants around the legal frameworks on adolescent sexual reproductive health and rights in the African Continent.
The regional workshop was held with the following objectives in mind:
- To strengthen the capacity of NHRIs, CSOs and duty bearers, leveraged by rightsholders to inquire broadly into sexual and reproductive rights issues, including investigating individual complaints; making recommendations directly to governments on alleged human rights violations; and reviewing national and regional laws and policies relating to ASRHR and reporting the same to treaty bodies.
- To enhance the capacity of NHRIs in the protection of ASRHR, monitoring implementation of regional commitments (Maputo Protocol, drafting of alternative reports, following up with Universal Periodic Reviews recommendations), and bridge the gaps noted during the study
- To provide a platform for learning and exchange that will steer forward collaborative advocacy dialogues between NHRIs, CSOs, duty-bearers and rightsholders around advancing ASRHR rights.
- To formulate actionable plans to be assessed over the implementing period (advocacy, communication and campaigning skills/strategies)
- To disseminate the findings of the research done around ASRHR.
Some of the key outcomes from the meeting were that there were enhanced capacities for NHRIs, CSOs and rights holders on data, tools and stronger networks to engage and inquire broadly into ASRHR issues, including investigating individual complaints, making recommendations directly to governments on alleged human rights violations among others. The workshop also catalyzed the inclusion of NHRIs in the National Reproductive Health Technical Working Groups in the four countries, which is indeed a great achievement. In DRC for example, CNDH will participate in the upcoming national dialogue convened by the Ministry of Health in June, 2023. Another great achievement was the development of an action plan that will be assessed over the implementing period.