BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE – Platinum Concepts’s Khulekani Mamba known as ‘Uncle Karly’ is part of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Maputo Protocol.
Yesterday Karly jetted out of the country to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Maputo Protocol by sharing reflections from Dr Anne Kihara, FIGO President-Elect, and OBGYNs from across Africa on how the Maputo Protocol has informed their work.
Karly in his Instagram stories mentioned that he was happy to be part of the team, he left the country with artist Msimisi Sithole.
“I’m so happy to be here, this is big and great for our brand,” said Uncle Karly.
The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights of Women in Africa, often referred to as the ‘Maputo Protocol’, was adopted by Heads of States in Maputo, Mozambique on July 11, 2003.
As of June 7, 2023, to coincide with the 20th anniversary, South Sudan became the 44th country of the African Union to ratify the protocol, stating it will enact it within its domestic laws.
The Maputo Protocol ensures that African women and girls’ human rights are upheld through progressive provisions on harmful traditional practices, reproductive health and rights, women’s roles in political processes, economic empowerment and ending violence against women.
Accordingly to the internet, the importance of the Maputo Protocol for safe abortion care in Africa for FIGO’s Advocating for Safe Abortion Project, the Maputo Protocol has specific relevance as it provides a strong springboard for African women and girls to claim their legal right to safe abortion care.
Article 14 (2) (c) sets that governments have a legal obligation to “protect the reproductive rights of women by authorising medical abortion in cases of sexual assault, rape, incest, and where the continued pregnancy endangers the mental and physical health of the mother or the life of the mother or the foetus.”
