REJECTION OF THE EAC SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH BILL,2024

The Honourable Speaker, East African Legislative Assembly EAC Headquarters P.O. Box 1096, Arusha, Tanzania

REF: URGENT CONCERNS AND DEMAND FOR REJECTION OF THE UNPOPULAR AND IDEOLOGICALLY CHARGED EAC SEXUAL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH BILL, 2024

Dear Honourable Speaker,

We write to you on behalf of the East Africa Pro-Life & Pro-Family Coalition, a body representing numerous civil society, faith-based, and pro-family organizations across the Partner States. We reiterate our strong and principled rejection of the EAC Sexual and Reproductive Health Bill, 2024 (the "SRH Bill").

As an "Act of the Community," this legislation, if passed, will supersede national laws and requires only the assent of the Presidents, bypassing ratification by national parliaments. This grants it an unprecedented and dangerous power to impose foreign, controversial ideologies across the region.

I. Promotion of Contentious and Radical Agendas

The central objective of the SRH Bill, stated in its Memorandum, is to "protect and facilitate the attainment of the life-course sexual and reproductive health and rights of all persons in the Community". The very concept of "sexual and reproductive health and rights" (SRHR) is highly contentious, having been repeatedly rejected by Partner States and at the UN General Assembly. This agenda is understood to promote homosexuality, transgenderism, surrogacy, and sexual autonomy for children.

II. Specific Objections to the Bill's Provisions

The 2024 version of the Bill contains numerous provisions that are unacceptable to the citizens of the EAC:

Assault on Parental Rights and Autonomy for Minors: The Bill defines an "adolescent" as any person aged between ten and nineteen years. It mandates that sexual and reproductive health services, education, and information for adolescents shall be "confidential, adolescent and youth-friendly, and non-discriminatory" (Clause 9(4)). This directly sidelines the parents and guardians from their primary role in raising their children. The Bill mandates the provision of "evidence-based, age and culturally appropriate comprehensive sexuality education" (Clause 6(3)(d)) , which is widely known to be a conduit for the introduction of explicit and age-inappropriate content to minors. Imposition of a Regional Abortion Framework: The Bill lists "access to permitted, safe and effective abortion services" as a required SRH service (Clause 6(3)(n)). Clause 16 states, "A pregnancy may be terminated if permitted by the law of a Partner State". While appearing to defer to national laws, this is a deceptive editing of previous versions and attempts to establish a framework that pressures Partner States toward liberalizing their abortion laws under the umbrella of "safe" services. Targeting of Cultural and Religious Values: The Bill explicitly targets faith and moral objections. It calls for public awareness programs to address "social, cultural and religious limitations on realisation of sexual and reproductive health" (Clause 28(4)(e)) and to modify social patterns based on gender roles. This is an unacceptable attack on the fundamental religious freedoms and cultural values of the EAC people. The Bill also fails to include any provision for the conscience rights of healthcare providers.

III. Concerns Regarding Undue Influence and Procedure

We are highly concerned by the clandestine manner in which the General Purpose Committee (GPC) has continued to process the EAC SRH Bill 2024. The GPC is openly engaging with numerous "development partners" (from November 2nd to 13th, 2025). These groups are recognized as radical abortion advocacy organizations (including International Planned Parenthood Federation, IPAS, and UNFPA) funded by Western donors to impose controversial ideological agendas like contraception to children, "safe" abortion, surrogacy, and the LGBTQ+ agenda.

This is a clear sign that this legislation is being co-opted by neo-colonial groups working through EALA to cement their agenda in the EAC.

Conclusion and Demand

We demand immediate intervention by your esteemed office to call the GPC to order.

The only way to uphold the moral sovereignty of the Partner States is to recognize that this Bill, whose only purpose is the institutionalization of a radical ideological agenda, must be stopped.

We demand the immediate rejection and withdrawal of the EAC Sexual and Reproductive Health Bill, 2024.

Respectfully,

For: The East African Pro-Life & Pro-Family Coalition