Empowering grassroots communities' girls in Africa to access sexual and reproductive information care and services

Control over women's sexuality is the most powerful tool of patriarchs in many African societies. Women's (adults and teenagers) fundamental rights are frequently violated in the name of traditions, cultures and religion. A transformation in these domains will create a strong background for change in political, economic and social spheres.

This paper aims to situate barriers to sexual and reproductive health services in relation to the social contracts and cultural constructs. It begins with what it means to be a female teenager in grassroots communities and in what way this relation impacts sexuality and reproduction.

Social constructs, traditional practices around sexuality, legal restrictions and lack of services limit the availability of access to services in grassroots communities, but do not reduce the number of girl dying from unsafe abortion and early, forced or unwanted pregnancies in rural areas.

The Girl Circle is a sexual and reproductive leadership program within the “Femmes et Droits Humains” that was established in 2003 and fosters collaboration and connection among women's empowerment groups, health-care providers, and other relevant stakeholders in order to promote access to sexual and reproductive information care and services.