LEGAL GROUNDS: Reproductive and Sexual Rights in Sub-Saharan African Courts

Flyer with Table of Contents.     Printed book, 228-pages, online here.  

Legal Grounds III, Online edition, with updates and links to decisions:

Cover and preliminaries
Table of Contents
Table of Cases (2008-2016) by Country
Foreword,  by Charles G. Ngwena 

Chapter One: Introduction  

Chapter Two: Children and Adolescents

Child, Forced and Early Marriage

• Mudzuru & Another v Ministry of Justice, Legal & Parliamentary Affairs (N.O.) & Others (Const. Application No. 79/14) [2015] ZWCC 12 (20 January 2016);  Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe outlawed child marriage under 18 years old.]  Decision online.  Decision PDF.
• Nvumeleni Jezile v The State and 7 Others [2015], High Court Case No. A 127/2014 (High Court of South Africa, Western Cape Division, Cape Town).  [Customary marriage practices are not justification for abduction and rape of a girl of 14.]   Decision online.  Decision PDF.
  
• *Rebeca Z. Gyumi v The Attorney General, Miscellaneous Civil Cause No. 5 of 2016, High Court of Tanzania at Dar es Salaam.  Date of Judgment: 8/7/2016,  [Third party consent to marriage of girls under 18 is unconstitutional] Decision online.  Decision PDF.  Comment by Rebeca Gyumi's NGO.   Comment by Godfrey Kangaude.
  
• *Attorney General vs Rebeca Z. Gyumi (Civil Appeal No.204 of 2017) [2019] TZCA 348; (23 October 2019)  [Court upheld decision of 2016.] Decision online.  Decision PDF.
  
• *APDF & IHRDA v Republic of Mali (App. no. 046/2016) [2018] AfCHPR 15; (11 May 2018) (African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights) [Customary child marriage provisions in Mali 's Family Code violate age of marriage and consent rights.]  Decision online. Decision PDF.   Case Comment by George Sakyi Asumadu**. 
  
• Highlight: "Child Marriage: Legal and Socio-Cultural Aspects"

Female Genital Mutilation

• Law and Advocacy for Women in Uganda v The Attorney General [2010] UGCC 4, Constitutional Petition No. 8 of 2007 (Constitutional Court of Uganda at Kampala).  [Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) prohibited as unconstitutional]  Decision online.  Decision in PDF

Sexual Abuse, Assault and Violence

• C.K. (A Child) through Ripples International as her guardian and Next friend) & 11 Others v Commissioner of Police/Inspector General of The National Police Service & 3 Others [2013] eKLR, Petition No. 8 of 2012 (High Court of Kenya at Meru). [Court holds police accountable for inaction in child sexual assaults].  Decision online.  Decision PDF.
  
• W.J. & Another v Astarikoh Henry Amkoah & 9 Others [2015] eKLR, Petition No. 331 of 2011 (High Court of Kenya at Nairobi, (Constitutional and Human Rights Division). [high school teacher rapist]  Decision online.  Decision PDF. 
• Highlight: Sexual Abuse, Assault and Violence
• For more cases of child defilement in Africa, see the ACERWC database.

Consensual Sexual Conduct

• C.K.W. v Attorney General & Another [2014] eKLR, Petition 6 of 2013 (High Court of Kenya at Eldoret).  [Court upholds criminalisation of adolescent consensual sex, ignores gender bias in the law.]  Decision online.
• S v. Brian M. [surname editorially abridged]  [2015] ZWHHC 106, CRB No. B467/14 (High Court of Zimbabwe at Harare). [Sentence reduced for adolescent sex.]  Decision online. 
  
• Teddy Bear Clinic for Abused Children and Another v Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and Another [2013], Case No. 73300/10 [2013] ZAGPPHC 1 (North Gauteng High Court, South Africa). [High Court proposes decriminalisation of adolescent consensual sexual conduct.]   Decision online.
• Teddy Bear Clinic for Abused Children and Another v Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and Another(CCT 12/13) [2013] ZACC 35;  (Constitutional Court, South Africa).  [Laws criminalising adolescent consensual sexual conduct suspended, pending review by Parliament.]  Decision online.
• *Martin C. v. Republic,  Criminal Appeal No. 32 of 2015, April 26, 2016 (High Court of Kenya, at Malindi).  [Consensual sexual relationship between adult man of 23 and girl of 14 is not "defilement." ]  Decision online. Decision PDF. Discussed in this article by Godfrey Kangaude.
  
• *The State v. CF (A Juvenile)  HH  143-11,  CRB  5,320/10  July  21,  2011  (High  Court  of  Zimbabwe). (Adolescent male cannot be convicted of consensual sex).  Decision online. Decision PDF.
  Highlight: Adolescent Consensual Sexual Conduct  

Student Pregnancy

• Head of Department,  Department of Education, Free State Province v Welkom High School & Another; Head of Department,  Department of Education, Free State Province v Harmony High School & Another [2013] ZACC 25 (Constitutional Court of South Africa).  [Expulsion of pregnant learners violates fundamental rights]  Decision online.

Chapter Three: Maternal Health Care and Services

• The Center for Health Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) and 3 Others v Attorney General [2012], Constitutional Petition No. 16 of 2011 (Constitutional Court of Uganda at Kampala). [Preventable maternal deaths dismissed as a "political question".  Dismissal overturned by 2015 Supreme Court decision, Decided in 2020, see below]    Decision online.    Decision attached in PDF.

• The Center for Health, Human Rights and Development and 3 Others v Attorney General [2015], Constitutional Appeal No. 01 of 2013 (Supreme Court of Uganda at Kampala), Judgments by Kisaakye, JSC and Katureebe, CJ. [Uganda Supreme Court orders Constitutional Court to hear a petition on maternal health rights violations.]  Decision online,. Decision scanned in PDF.
  

• The Center for Health Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) and 3 Others v Attorney General [2020],Constitutional Petition No. 16 of 2011 (Constitutional Court of Uganda at Kampala).  Decision online.  Decision attached in PDF.

• The Center for Health, Human Rights and Development & 4 Others  v Nakaseke District Local Administration [2015], Civil Suit No. 111 of 2012 (High Court of Uganda at Kampala). [Ugandan High Court finds human rights violations where a pregnant woman died of a ruptured uterus and blood loss while in labour.] Decision online.

• Millicent Awuor Omuya alias Maimuna Awuor & Another v The Attorney General & 4 Others [2015], Petition No. 562 of 2012, (High Court of Kenya at Nairobi (Constitutional and Human Rights Division)). [Detaining women for failing to pay for maternal health services is a violation of their constitutional rights]  Decision online

• Ntsele v Mec for Health, Gauteng Provincial Government [2012] ZAGPJHC 208 (South Gauteng High Court, South Africa) [medical negligence during labour damaged child's brain]  Decision online.
  
  
• *J O O (also known as J M) v Attorney General & 6 others [2018] Petition No 5 of 2014, (High Court of Kenya at Bungoma).  [neglect, abuse and humiliation of pregnant woman at county hospital] Decision of March 22, 2018 online.  Case comment by Naitore Nyamu,**
  
• Highlight: Maternal Health Care and Services
  
  

Chapter Four: Abortion and Fetal Interests

Abortion

• Case no. RPA 0787/15/HC/KIG (High Court of Rwanda, Kigali) [2015] Unreported, . [legal abortion allowed for raped 13-year-old].  Official English translation (redacted to preserve victim privacy).    Backup copy.
• Mildred Mapingure v Minister Of Home Affairs and 2 Others [2014], Judgment No. SC 22/14, Civil Appeal No. SC 406/12 (Supreme Court of Zimbabwe). [State held liable for hindering access to emergency contraception, but not abortion]  Decision online.  Decision attached in PDF
• Republic v Jackson Namunya Tali [2014] eKLR, High Court Criminal Case No. 75 of 2009 (High Court of Kenya at Nairobi).  [Court convicts nurse of murder over abortion related death]  Decision online.  Decision attached in PDF.
  
• *Republic v. Jackson Namunya Tali, [2017] Criminal Appeal No. 173 of 2016. Decision dated October 19, 2017.  [Nurse Jackson Tali is acquitted by the Court of Appeal (Kenya) after 8 years awaiting death penalty.]  Decision online.    Decision attached in PDF.   Press release by CRR. 
• *Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida – Kenya) & 3 others v Attorney General & 2 others; East Africa Center for Law & Justice & 6 others (Interested Party) & Women’s Link Worldwide & 2 others (Amicus Curiae) [2019] eKLR, Petition No. 266 of 2015, Decision dated June 12, 2019.  [Landmark Case of "JMM," wrongful withdrawal of abortion training and guidelines, clarified abortion legal after rape] (High Court of Kenya at Nairobi, Constitutional and Human Rights Division), Decision online.  Backup copy.   Case Comment by Benson Chakaya**  
  
• *The State (On the Application by HM (Guardian) on behalf of CM (Minor) vs The Hospital Director of Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital & The Minister of Health [2021] Judicial Review Cause Number 03 of 2021 (unreported) (High Court of Malawi, Zomba District Registry), Decision dated June 15, 2021.  [In Malawi's first abortion-related ruling, a pregnant girl is denied judicial review of oral abortion refusal by hospital staff.]  Decision online.   (Download:) Legal Brief by Lewis Bande and Godfrey Kangaude.   Overview on Reprohealthlaw Blog.
  
• *PAK & Salim Mohammed v. Attorney General & 3 Others (Constitutional Petition E009 of 2020) [2022] KEHC 262 (KLR) (24 March 2022) (High Court of Kenya at Malindi)  Decision online.   Backup copy.    Press release by CRR. [Abortion care is a fundamental constitutional right. Arrests of patients and clinicians are illegal. Parliament is directed to align law and policy with the Constitution.]
• Highlight: Abortion and Fetal Interests

Wrongful Birth or Life

• AAA v Registered Trustees (Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi) [2015] eKLR, Civil Case No. 3 of 2013 (High Court of Kenya at Nairobi (Civil Division)). [Damages awarded for failure of contraception, including the cost of rearing and educating an unplanned child]  Decision online.
• E. R.O. v  Board Of Trustees, Family Planning Association of Kenya [2013] eKLR, Civil Case 788 of 2000 (High Court of Kenya at Nairobi) [Pregnancy after tubal ligation - not proven]  Decision online.
• H v Fetal Assessment Centre [2014] ZACC 34 (Constitutional Court of South Africa)  ["wrongful life" claim]  Decision online.

Chapter Five: Adoption and Surrogacy

Adoption

• GK  v. BOK,  CGLK,  MT  and  the  Attorney General [2015] BWHC 1, MAHGB-000291-14 (High Court of Botswana) [Father's consent required for adoption even out of wedlock]   High court judgment.
• Highlight: Adoption and Surrogacy

Surrogacy

• AB and Surrogacy Advisory Group v Minister of Social Development [2015] ZAGPPHC 580 (High Court of South Africa) [surrogate motherhood and genetic link]  Decision online.

• *AB and Surrogacy Advisory Group v. the Minister of Social Development   CCT 155/15, decided November 29, 2016 (Constitutional Court of South Africa)  (Centre for Child Law as Amicus Curiae)  Decision online.  (Abstract by Karabo Ozah),

• Ex Parte: MS and Others [2014] ZAGPPHC 457 (High Court of South Africa) [surrogate motherhood requires court authorization]  Decision online.
• J.L.N. & 2 Others v Director of Children's Services & 4 Others [2014] eKLR, Petition No. 78 of 2014 (High Court of Kenya at Nairobi (Constitutional and Human Rights Division).  [Twins born to surrogate withheld by Hospital until birth certificate resolved.]  Decision online.
• MIA v State Information Technology Agency (Pty) Ltd [2015] ZALCD 20 (Labour Court of South Africa)
  [pay leave for primary caregiver of surrogate's child]  Decision online.

Chapter Six: Gender, Sexuality, Women and Discrimination

Rape

• S v Chirembwe [2015] ZWHHC 162, CRB No. R 1006/12 (High Court of Zimbabwe at Harare)  [Sentence length for multiple rapes]  Decision online. 

Disability, Sexuality and Criminal Law

• Center for Health, Human Rights and Development and Iga Daniel v Attorney General [2015], Constitutional Petition No. 64 of 2011 (Constitutional Court of Uganda at Kampala).  Derogatory labels for mentally disabled persons are unconstitutional.  Decision online.

Sexual Harassment

• *Rita M Mbatha v Farai B Zizhou & Anor, [2021] HH675-21,  HC 4986/14.   (High Court of Zimbabwe at Harare), 20 October 2021 Decision online.  Awarded damages for sexual harassment at work.
  

Women and Criminal Law

• Lucy Nyambura & Another v Town Clerk, Municipal Council of Mombasa & 2 Others [2011] eKLR, Petition No. 286 of 2009 (High Court of Kenya).  [Conviction for loitering for purposes of prostitution held constitutional.]  Decision online.
• Dorothy Njemanze & 3 Ors V Federal Republic of Nigeria: SUIT NO: ECW/CCJ/APP/17/14  (ECOWAS Court, Abuja, Nigeria)   Nigeria fined by ECOWAS Court for mistreatment of women, alleged prostitutes, by law enforcement personnel, under vagrancy laws. Summary by Benson Chakaya. Decision of October 12, 2017.   Press release  
  
• *Mayeso Gwanda v. the State, Constitutional Case No 5. 2015  (High Court of Malawi. [vagrancy law challenged on human rights grounds in case of male vendor],  Decision of January 10, 2017 cites unreported 2007 Malawian "Mwanza" decision about 13 women, discussed on p. 127 of Legal Grounds III.
  

Gender Identity, Intersexuality, Transgender Rights

• Baby "A" (suing through her mother, E.A.) and  The Cradle the Children Foundation v Attorney General, Kenyatta National Hospital, and the Registrar of Births and Deaths [2014] eKLR, Petition No. 266 of 2013 (High Court of Kenya at Nairobi, Constitutional and Human Rights Division). [Kenyan Court recognizes need to protect the constitutional rights of intersex persons]  Decision online.
• R.M. v Attorney General & 4 Others [2010] eKLR, Petition No. 705 of 2007 (High Court of Kenya at Nairobi (Nairobi Law Courts)). Decision online. [Kenya does not recognize intersex persons]
• Republic v Kenya National Examinations Council & Another [2014] eKLR, JR Case No. 147 of 2013 (High Court of Kenya at Nairobi) [Ordered name and gender change on high school diploma]  Decision online.
• *Ricky Nathanson v Farai Mteliso, The Officer in Charge Bulawayo Central Police Station, Commissioner of Police and the Minister of Home Affairs, Case no.HB 176/19 HC 1873/14 [2019] ZWBHC 135( (14 November 2019);  (Zimbabwe, High Court) [condemns transgender abuse; upholds constitutional rights of transgender persons]  Decision online.   Case summary by Keikantse Phele..

Sexual Orientation

• Oloka-Onyango and 9 Others v Attorney General [2014], Constitutional Petition No. 8 of 2014, 
  UGCC 14 (1 August 2014) (Constitutional Court of Uganda at Kampala). [Anti-Homosexuality Act annulled due to lack of parliamentary quorum.]  Decision online.
• C.O.L. & G.M.N. v. Resident Magistrate Kwale Court & Others Petition No. 51 of 2015 (High Court of Kenya, Constitutional and Judicial Review Division). [Court allowed medical examinations including anal exams to prove crime of homosexuality]  Decision on file.
• *Teriah Joseph Ebah v. Federal Government of Nigeria, Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/197/2014.  Decision of October 22, 2014 (Federal High Court of Nigeria at Abuja) [Court evaded legalizing homosexuality on constitutional grounds by denying legal standing to the applicant. ]  Decision online.  Case comment by Ovye Affi.**
• *["Eric Gitari 2"] EG & 7 others v Attorney General; DKM & 9 others Petition 150 & 234 of 2016 (consolidated), (High Court of Kenya at Nairobi, Constitutional and Human Rights Division).  Decision of May 24, 2019 [homosexuality not legalized]  Decision online.
• *Letsweletse Motshidiemang v Attorney General [2019] MAHGB-000591-16, Decision of June 11, 2019. (Botswana, High Court)  Decision online.  Article by Prof. Frans Viljoen.  Case comment by Kutlwano Pearl Magashula**  [gay sex decriminalized]
• *Attorney General v. Letsweletse Motshidiemang & LEGABIBO (Amicus Curiae)[2021] CACBB-157-19, Decision of November 29, 2021. (Botswana, Court of Appeal)  Decision online. Article by Carmel Rickard.[Decriminalization of gay sex confirmed on appeal.]

Recognition of LGBTIQ Advocacy and Groups

• Eric Gitari v Non-Governmental Organizations Co-Ordination Board & 4 Others [2015] eKLR, Petition No. 440 of 2013 (High Court of Kenya at Nairobi)  [LGBT organizations can be registered.]  Decision online.
• Thuto Rammoge & 19 Others v The Attorney General of Botswana [2014] MAHGB-000175-13 (High Court of Botswana). [Homosexual rights advocacy society received official recognition.]  Decision online.
• Attorney General of Botswana v. Thuto Rammoge & 19 Others [2016]  CACGB-128-14 (Botswana Court of Appeal at Gaborone)  [Appeal dismissed]  Decision online
• The People v Paul Kasonkomona [2015] HPA/53/2014 (High Court for Zambia)   [Freedom of expression: HIV/LGBT activist acquitted for remarks made on television.]   Decisions and documents online
• Republic v Non-Governmental Organizations  Co-ordination Board & another ex-parte Transgender Education and Advocacy & 3 Others [2014] eKLR, JR Miscellaneous Application No. 308a of 2013 (High Court of Kenya at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts) [Ordered transgender organization to be registered]. Decision online.
• *Pamela Adie v. Corporate Affairs Commission, Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/827/2018.  Decision of November 16, 2018   (Federal High Court of Nigeria at Abuja) [upheld failure to register an organization to protect lesbian women]  Decision online.  Case comment by Obiagbaoso Maryanne Nkechi**.
• Highlight: Towards Respect for Human Diversity

Chapter Seven: HIV

Access to Treatment

• Dr. Jeremiah Ojonemi Alabi Abalaka and Medicrest Specialist Hospital Ltd.  v. President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Attorney General of the Federation, and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) ,[2014]  Suit No. FHC/MKD/CS/ 75/2012.  Federal High Court at Makurdi, Nigeria.  [Longstanding ban on controversial HIV vaccine nullified.] Decision on file

• Dickson Tapela & 2 Others v Attorney General & 2 Others [2014] MAHGB-000057-14 (High Court of Botswana) [securing access to HIV treatment for prisoners]  Documents online through SALC
• Attorney General and Others v Tapela and Others ; In re: Attorney General and Others v Mwale (CACGB-096-14, CACGB-076-15) [2015] BWCA 1 (26 August 2015)  [dismissed by Botswana Court of Appeal].  Decision online. 

• P.A.O. and 2 Others v The Attorney General & Another [2012], Petition No. 409 of 2009 (High Court of Kenya at Nairobi). [law blocked access to generic ARV medicines]  Decision online.

Stigma, and Criminalisation of Transmission

• AIDS Law Project v Attorney General & 3 Others [2015] eKLR, Petition No. 97 of 2010 (High Court of Kenya at Nairobi).  [Criminal provision in HIV/AIDS law is overbroad and vague, unconstitutional] [Decision online.
• Rosemary Namubiru v. Uganda [2014],  HCT-00-CR-CN -- 0050-2014.  High Court of Uganda at Kampala. [HIV+ nurse's negligence - excessive sentence]  Decision on file.
• Highlight: Criminalisation of HIV Non-Disclosure, Exposure, and Transmission
• *Kenya Legal and Ethical Network on HIV & AIDS (KELIN) & 3 others v Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Health & 4 others Abstract by Ebenezer Durojaye [2016] eKLR Petition 250 of 2015. (High Court at Nairobi) [Court halts collection of HIV data]  Decision online.     

Forced Sterilization

• LM and Others v. Government of the Republic of Namibia, [2012] NAHC 211 (High Court of Namibia)  [Court found forced sterilization of women without informed consent; unproven link to HIV-positive status]  Decision online.
• Government of the Republic of Namibia v L.M. & 2 Others [2014] NASC 19 (Supreme Court of Namibia). [Court links forced sterilisation to infringement of constitutional rights] Decision online.
• Highlight: Sexual and Reproductive Rights of Women Living with HIV

Discrimination in Employment

• Dwenga and Others v Surgeon-General of the South African Military Health Services and Others [2014] ZAGPPHC 727, Case No. 40844/2013 (High Court, North Gauteng) [HIV+ individuals cannot be excluded from army.] Decision online.
• Gary Shane Allpass v Mooikloof Estates (Pty) Ltd. [2011], Case No. JS178/09 (Labour Court of South Africa).[Wrongful dismissal, HIV+]  Decision online.
• Georgina Ahamefule v Imperial Medical Centre & Dr. Alex Molokwu [2012], Suit No. ID/1627/2000 (High Court of Lagos State). [Wrongful dismissal of HIV+ nurse]  Decision online.
• Stanley Kingaipe & Another v The Attorney General [2010] 2009/HL/86 (High Court for Zambia) [HIV testing and ARV treatment without consent]  Decision online.  

  Discrimination in Sentencing

  • *MK v Director of Public Prosecutions and Others, CONST 5 of 2020 [2022] LSHC 238 (High Court of Lesotho) October 25, 2022, [constitutional challenge overturned certain sections of the Sexual Offences Act that impose mandatory HIV testing on persons accused of sexual offences, then impose a death sentence on persons convicted of sexual offences solely based on their HIV-positive status.] News report.  Decision online.   Backup copy of decision.

Chapter Eight: Francophone Africa  /  L’Afrique Francophone

• [Adultery /   L’adultère] Décision  DCC 09-081 Decision DCC 09-081 of 30 July 2009 of the Constitutional Court of Benin  (adultery law unconstitutional).  Decision in French on file.   Decision en ligne.
• [Polygamy / La polygamie]  Décision DCC 02-144  of 23 December 2002 of the Constitutional Court of Benin (polygamy law unconstitutional)  Decision in French on file.  Decision en ligne.
• [Infanticide /  L’infanticide] Judgment No 216 of 13 December 2005 the Court of Appeal Niamey , Niger (distinction between abortion and infanticide)  Decision on file, in French.

Online Legal Resources

Full Citation Information and Case Links

*Updates, not in Legal Grounds III, are marked with one asterisk.

** We thank Prof. Ebenezer Durojaye for facilitating this case comment, and others by African law students, marked with two asterisks.


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