Monitoring the Right to Health and Sexual and Reproductive Health at the National Level: Some Considerations for African Governments

Comparative International Law Journal of Southern Africa, Vol. 42, No. 2, pp. 227-263, 2009

Posted: 4 Dec 2009 Last revised: 30 Dec 2009

Date Written: December 3, 2009

Abstract

This paper examines the relevance of using human rights indicators to monitor a state's obligations as regards the right to health including sexual and reproductive rights in Africa. Using some examples of sexual and reproductive rights issues such as access to HIV treatment, maternal health services and access to sexual health services for adolescents, the paper explores the importance of measuring human rights and the tools that can be used for this purpose. For example, the paper discusses the relevance of indicators, benchmarks and indices as tools for measuring human rights. It similarly explores the differences between human rights indicators and other forms of indicators such as those used for health and development. For instance, while human development indicators are concerned with expansion of peoples’ capabilities, human rights indicators are interested in assessing whether people are living in freedom and dignity. The paper further discusses what human rights indicators need to measure and the appropriate methodology that can be used for this purpose. It recommends the framework developed by an international non-governmental organization, Peoples’ Health Movement (PHM) as appropriate for monitoring the right to health including sexual and reproductive rights. It concludes by arguing that civil society groups and human rights institutions need to work together with African governments to ensure proper monitoring of sexual and reproductive rights at the national level.

Keywords: monitoring right to health, sexual and reprodutive health, indicators, African governments

JEL Classification: Health, General

Suggested Citation

Durojaye, Ebenezer Tope, Monitoring the Right to Health and Sexual and Reproductive Health at the National Level: Some Considerations for African Governments (December 3, 2009). Comparative International Law Journal of Southern Africa, Vol. 42, No. 2, pp. 227-263, 2009 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1517663

Ebenezer Tope Durojaye (Contact Author)

University of the Western Cape ( email )

Modderdam Road
Bellville
Cape Town, Western Cape 7535
South Africa

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