Kelsey Peterson

On Wednesday, Zimbabweans will head to the polls to elect a new president. In May, current President Robert Mugabe, a dictator infamous for his human rights abuses, signed a new constitution that will usher in much-needed reforms, including a more expansive bill of rights, presidential term limits, and electoral amendments meant to keep elections free and fair.

All eyes were on Uganda in 2009, when the Parliament tried to pass a bill making homosexuality punishable by death in certain cases. Since then, however, it has become increasingly evident that discrimination against LGBTQ people in Africa is far more widespread than an isolated legislative battle.

The Justice Department recently decided to comply with a judge’s order to allow minors to purchase emergency contraception without a prescription or age restriction. While reproductive rights and justice groups applaud this progress for women’s health, antichoice groups denounce the decision, also claiming to have women’s well-being in mind.