Harmonization of Minimum Ages and Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights
Summary
The brief examines how laws in East and Southern Africa regulate the minimum ages for marriage, consent to sex, and access to sexual and reproductive health services. It highlights gaps and inconsistencies between these laws and international and regional human rights standards, showing how loopholes, gender bias, and restrictive consent rules leave adolescents exposed to child marriage, sexual exploitation, and poor access to care. Using examples from across the region, it illustrates how more coherent, rights-based legal frameworks can better protect adolescents and support their health and well-being.
Purpose
The brief aims to guide governments, policymakers, and advocates in harmonizing age-related laws on marriage, sexual consent, and access to services in line with human rights obligations. It seeks to provide clear principles and practical examples that can inform law reform, policy development, and advocacy strategies to end child marriage, prevent abuse, and ensure adolescents can obtain timely, confidential sexual and reproductive health information and services.
Audience
The brief is intended for government ministries responsible for justice, health, gender, and child protection; parliamentarians and law-reform bodies; regional and national policymakers; UN agencies and international partners; civil society organisations working on child protection, gender equality, and SRHR; and advocates seeking to harmonise legal frameworks to better protect adolescents.
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