Raising the voices of African women: the battle of Congolese women for respect for abortion in the Maputo Protocol
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the question of voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion) remains a delicate and controversial subject. Despite the entry into force of the Maputo Protocol in 2018, a complement to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, abortion remains criminally punishable, except in certain specific cases such as sexual assault, rape, incest and situations endangering the health of the mother or fetus. However, female voices are rising in Kinshasa to demand respect for this text and even its extension.
In a context where Christian predominance and traditional values strongly influence beliefs and laws, Congolese women face many obstacles to freely dispose of their bodies. Abortion is often stigmatized and considered a taboo subject, making it difficult for women to access safe and legal medical services.
However, in Kinshasa, courageous women are mobilizing to assert their rights and change mentalities. They are actively campaigning for the Maputo Protocol to be fully respected and for abortion to be authorized within a broader framework. Their goal is to guarantee Congolese women the right to decide about their own body, their reproductive health and their future.
These women activists organize demonstrations, awareness campaigns and advocacy actions to make their voices heard and put pressure on the authorities. They also seek to educate and inform the population about the risks associated with clandestine and unsafe abortions, which are still widely practiced due to lack of access to reproductive health services.
The fight of Congolese women for respect for abortion is not limited to the capital. Similar initiatives are emerging in other regions of the country, bringing together women from various communities and representatives of civil society. These courageous women are uniting to defend their rights and end the marginalization and discrimination they often face in matters of reproductive health.
It is essential to support and amplify the voices of these Congolese women, who are fighting for gender equality, for the recognition of their rights in matters of reproductive health and for a more just and equitable society. Respect for abortion in the Maputo Protocol is a crucial first step, but it is important to continue to promote access to quality sexual and reproductive health services, without discrimination or stigma.
As a society, it is time to recognize that women’s choice and autonomy over their own bodies are fundamental rights that must be respected. We must support Congolese women in their battle for the recognition of these rights and work together for a future where all women will have the power to decide over their own bodies and their own destiny.
Article links:
1. [The battle of Congolese women for respect for abortion: giving voice to their struggle in the Maputo Protocol](https://fatshimetrie.org/blog/2023/08/07/la-bataille-des -congolese-women-for-respect-of-livg-give-a-voice-to-their-struggle-in-the-maputo-protocol/)
2. [The DRC achieves resounding success at the Francophonie Games: 11 medals and exemplary preparation](https://fatshimetrie.org/blog/2023/08/07/la-rdc-rommage-un-succes-eclatant -at-the-francophonie-games-11-medals-and-exemplary-preparation/)
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8. [Ultimatum in Niger: an imminent military intervention as diplomatic negotiations bog down](https://fatshimetrie.org/blog/2023/08/06/ultimatum-au-niger-une-intervention-militaire-imminente -while-diplomatic-negotiations-get bogged down/)
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