Women’s and girls’ bodies have long been under the external eye. Women lack control over their bodies. Their sexual expression is controlled and they are often denied comprehensive reproductive health education and services. Bodily autonomy is a universal right, yet more than half the women in Sub-Saharan African countries do not have the right to decide whether to have sex with their partners, use contraception or seek healthcare.

“When woman’s power to control her own body is linked to how much control she has in other spheres of her life, just 48 per cent women and girls aged 15-49 years in 36 Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries are able to take their own decisions regarding their body and health.” (UNFPA 2021)

Sport for development organizations such as Sports Legal, Slum Soccer, Nancholi Youth Organization, The Grassroot Project, Tackle Africa, Mathare Youth Sports Association and Safe Spaces Nairobi address sexual and reproductive health and rights through sports. Their work creates a platform to engage both boys and girls by bringing the community together. Sports are still considered a male-dominated field, and including girls helps disrupt gender norms, take over public spaces and advance gender equality.

Resources on reproductive justice and rights can be downloaded below. More resources can be found here.