methods; j) the right to family planning education". The provisions of this article
explicitly guarantee the right to family planning.
115. The Commission considers that family planning refers to all measures taken on
behalf of an individual to control fertility, including the use of contraception, if
the individual chooses not to have children now or in the future>. The right to
exercise control over fertility, to decide on childbearing, the number and spacing
of children, and to freely choose a method of contraception are inextricably linked,
interdependent and inseparable=. All these/rights 'are based on respect for
women's dignity and enshrine women's freedom to make their own decisions
without interference from State or non-State ~ttbrs.37
116. The right to family planning educationenshrined in=Article 14.1.f) of Maputo
Protocol requires States to provide full and accurate information necessary for the
respect, protection, promotion a!ld enjoyment of health, including the choice of
contraceptive methods.
117. In the present case, the'Complainants fail to demonstrate the causal link between
the facts described and the. allegations of the above-mentioned provisions of
Article 14 of Maputo Protocol. ":Indeed, th~' Complainants' submissions do not
demonstrate how the facts d1scribed impeded the victims' personal decisionmaking on the right to exercise control over their~fertility, on the right to decide
on their maternity, the number of cliildren and the spacing of births, or on family
planning in general.
118. In the absence of.such justification, the Committee concludes that Article 14.1 (a)
(b) (c) (f) of the
Maj3u!o Protocol has not been violated .
.\
--,-,
.'.;~
";
.'
'\
On the violation oJArtie!'e 14.2 (a5,~1Jd(c) of Maputo Protocol
119. Article 14.2 (a)ari.d (c) of the Maputo Protocol states as follows: "States shall take
all appropriate mea~lf:.~esto: a) Ensure that women have access to adequate health care
services at affordable cost and within
reasonable distances, including
information,
education and communication programmes for women, in particular those living in rural
areas; c) protect the reproductive rights of women, especially by permitting safe abortion,
in cases of sexual assault, rape, incest and when the pregnancy endangers the mental and
physical health of the mother or the life of the mother or e oetus .
.....,..:;;.;c;-.;-;w.~4.
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."
120. The provisions of this Article guarantee/mome
ccess r@..- ' fordable health care
within reasonable distances and the rigpt t sar rti 0 in cases of sexual
.
I<(,
f"\
(,) 0
-----------
~ ~
35 African
ta/tg
Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, Ge
and Article 14.2 (a) and (c) of the Protocol to the African C
Women in Africa, para 9
36 African
Cornmlsslon on Human and Peoples' Rights, General
~ s
'#
m'elfl1JJ/}:Jo.
r'fM Num.a
~
VI
•
0.."
~
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~AI"...
~~~o
~
G).
Ie 14.1 (a), (b), (c) and (f)
Per;, les' Rights on the Rights of
\.~'?
~ n Article 14.1 (a), (b), (c) and (f)
and Article 14. 2 (a) and (c) of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of
Women in Africa, para 23.
para 24.
37 Idem,
22