By Divya Nakra - Canada
The African continent grapples with persistent challenges in ensuring stability and well-being for its female population. Despite notable successes in democratic processes and increased female representation in political sectors, numerous obstacles persist, overshadowing these achievements. Violations of women's human rights remain a pressing issue, especially in regions suffering from conflict or economic hardship, such as the Central African Republic, Somalia, Sierra Leone, and Sudan. This essay delves into two prominent issues within the broader topic of women's rights in Africa: healthcare disparities and human trafficking, involving forced labour.
Healthcare Disparities
One crucial challenge facing women in Africa is healthcare disparities, primarily caused by limited resources and accessibility. East Africa emerges as a hotspot for this issue, with only 42.91% of women having access to healthcare services (Minyihun and Tessema). Countries like Uganda, Somalia, and Kenya face significant challenges in providing quality healthcare. Factors contributing to healthcare disparities include insufficient resources, such as a shortage of doctors and medication, economic barriers, and biases leading to denial of help based on personal opinions, age, racial subgroups, and cultural norms.
Maternal and reproductive health stand out as vulnerable areas within the healthcare system. Inadequate healthcare, such as a shortage of skilled birth attendants, limited access to emergency obstetric care, and cultural practices like home births, contribute to the challenge of insufficient medical support for many women in Africa. The World Health Organization highlights intra-regional disparities in maternal health coverage, emphasizing the need for interventions to address these gaps.
“The African Region has large intra-regional disparities in terms of coverage of basic maternal health interventions like antenatal care. While Southern Africa reported almost universal coverage in 2010, in West Africa about one-third of pregnant women did not receive antenatal care visits” ("Maternal Health").
In response to these challenges, the WHO campaign implements various initiatives, such as increasing research evidence, providing evidence-based guidance, setting global standards, and supporting countries in implementing policies and programs. Despite these efforts, the issue persists, contributing to alarming suicide and death rates, with Africa having the world's highest suicide rates that particularly affect females.
Trafficking and Forced Labour
The second pressing concern faced by women in Africa is human trafficking and forced labour, interconnected problems involving the exploitation of vulnerable individuals. Human trafficking consists of various forms, such as sex trafficking, forced labour, and child exploitation, with children representing over 75% of trafficking victims in West Africa (Okorie and Okeja). Forced labour, particularly in industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, construction, and domestic work, disproportionately affects women. This vulnerability is largely due to gender inequality and societal roles that limit employment and education opportunities.
Factors contributing to the prevalence of trafficking and forced labour include poverty, armed conflicts, gender inequality, and a lack of awareness and education. The International Labor Organization estimates a significant number of victims in Sub-Saharan Africa, with women and girls forming the majority.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the violation of women's rights in Africa remains a critical issue, with healthcare disparities and human trafficking representing significant challenges. Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach, including improving the doctor-to-patient ratio, enhancing medical education, increasing public awareness, and strengthening legislation with regard to trafficking and forced labour. The urgency of these solutions cannot be understated, as countless women and girls continue to suffer, and their struggles often go unnoticed. Therefore, greater attention and financial support are essential to effect meaningful change in the quest for women's rights and freedoms in Africa.
Bibliography
Minyihun, Amare, and Zemenu T. Tessema. "Determinants of Access to Health Care Among Women in East African Countries: A Multilevel Analysis of Recent Demographic and Health Surveys from 2008 to 2017." National Library of Medicine, 30 Sept. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7533273/. Accessed 13 Mar. 2024.
"Maternal Health." World Health Organisation, www.afro.who.int/health-topics/maternal-health#:~:text=The%20African%20Region%20has%20large,not%20receive%20antenatal%20care%20visits. Accessed 13 Mar. 2024.
Okorie, Mitterand, and Uchenna Okeja. "Child Trafficking in Africa: Reimagining the Problem." MPDI, 11 Sept. 2023, www.mdpi.com/2313-5778/7/3/64. Accessed 13 Mar. 2024.
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