The Sierra Leonean non-profit, Women Against Violence and Exploitation in Society (WAVES), challenged a policy banning pregnant girls from mainstream education as a violation of their rights under the African Charter and several other regional and international human rights instruments. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Community Court of Justice ruled in favor of WAVES.
Although Sierra Leone has officially overturned the ban, public support for the ban means that the stigma will likely continue. Sierra Leone is yet to implement the other orders in the judgment apart from the overturning of the ban.
Even though this case concerns Sierra Leone, similar practices exist in some African States, and this case could be used by advocates and lawyers as inspiration to challenge them. For instance, lawyers have cited this case as persuasive authority in cases that are currently pending before other regional human rights tribunals in respect of a similar ban in Tanzania.
For their contributions, special thanks to ESCR-Net members: the Program on Human Rights and the Global Economy (PHRGE) at Northeastern University.
