Executive summary.

• Position: Reproductive & Sexual Health Rights in Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Malawi and Rwanda: An Advocacy and Communications Approach

Within the programming period of 2005-2007, the reproductive and sexual rights of African women are the focus for FEMNET. The aim of the project is to enable African women to influence national legal and policy frameworks to protect and promote reproductive and sexual rights in Africa. Through research, the project intends to assess the implementation by five African governments (Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Malawi, and Rwanda) of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and other relevant international and regional instruments, and assist the negotiation capacity of young African women of their reproductive and sexual rights, by exploring and deconstructing customary and religious barriers that exist in respect of their autonomy and choice, taking into consideration, the prevalence of transactional sex, sexual coercion and violence.

FEMNET holds as a premise that, reproductive and sexual rights are intrinsically linked with other human rights and are a precondition for sustainable development. Participation in the reproductive and sexual decision-making process enables women to participate actively in and enjoy rights related to other areas of development such as education and productive labour. Reproductive and sexual rights, guaranteed in regional and international human rights treaties thus need to be recognised and enforced at the national level.

Key country research findings

In Cameroon, in spite of several conventions, seminars and workshops to cater for the needs of women, targets have not been met and many gaps still exist. On a general basis, the findings of the study show that most Cameroonians (approx. 95%), do not know what ICPD is all about. Secondly, while the Cameroon government has made some progress, in the area of reproductive and sexual health and rights lapses still exist. Cultural barriers down play the efforts made by the government, and these barriers help keep women, especially those in the rural areas, ignorant of existing rights and laws.

Both traditional and modern methods of family planning are practised in Cameroon. The government is using several strategies such as the media campaigns and workshops, fliers and calendars to make modern methods known. Family planning services are free of charge.

Maternal Mortality is high and is estimated at 669 deaths per 100,000 live births. The Ministry of Public Health has set up a Roadmap, for Reduction of Maternal and Neonatal Mortality within the time frame of 2006-2015, aimed at contributing to the achievement of the millennium development goals (MDGs). The findings, further show that the non-utilization of health facilities and the non exploitation of reproductive and sexual health and rights, has also been due to poor control of pregnancy, poor monitoring of labour and management of emergency obstetrical care, low contraceptive prevalence, upsurge of STIs/HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria and malaria and pregnancy, not to mention the cultural barriers that increases ignorance of women.

There are many infertile and childless women in Cameroon. 40 to 50 % of gynaecological consultations are either for pelvic infections or infertility. No agencies exist which take care of infertile or childless women. More than 80% of infertility cases are due to STIs, with a non-negligible part due to post-partum and post-abortum infections.

There are no structures or services to cater for the needs of old and menopausal women. However, there is a National Day for the Old (October 1st of every year). The Cameroon government has, equally, created special services (Service for the Protection of the Elderly) at the Ministry of Social Affairs, to cater for the specific needs of old women..

The most current STIs and STDs are chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and trichomonas. The Northwest, East and Southwest Provinces have the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence in Cameroon. 90% of the transmission of HIV/AIDS is through sex (homosexual or heterosexual), with only 10% through blood and mother-to-child transmission. The 2004 prevalence rate in the country was 5.5% and is higher among women (6.8%), who are more likely to contract the virus through sexual...