This manual was prepared by the International Programme on Reproductive and Sexual Health Law of the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto, and distributed by Ipas-Africa. Originally published in 2002, but released as a second edition in 2006, it is intended to familiarise advocates with the regional human rights system and its treaty body, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, which was created to promote and protect reproductive and sexual health.

The manual aims to:

• describe the context of reproductive and sexual health in Africa and the African regional human rights system;
• demonstrate how the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (African Charter) relates to reproductive and sexual health rights;
• compile basic texts such as the African Charter, regional declarations, selected resolutions of the African Commission, and selected national and African Commission case law relevant to reproductive and sexual health rights or to the African Commission's procedure (international human rights documents relevant to the interpretation of the African Charter rights are also included);
• explain the purpose and function of the African Commission; and
• provide technical information on the submission of communications to the African Commission.

119 (second edition)

United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women website on April 2 2007.