African countries should demystify sex in order to effectively deal with abuses, human reproductive experts told a pan-African conference on sexual health and rights.

They said African societies, where matters related to sex are regarded as a taboo at best, need to open up, amid a surge of incidents of sexual abuse.

"The subject of sex and sexuality is shrouded in silence and ignorance in many African countries and our governments should take this issue seriously," said Sarah Onyango, regional chief for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America International.

"It is shameful and we have to break the silence (...) We need to work in fighting against the taboos to get rid of them. Our silence has taken us back to colonialism," added Tewodros Melesse, the African director for the International Planned Parenthood Federation.

The continent needs to boost its emphasis on sex education, which has been opposed by mainstream churches in most African countries, said delegates at the 2nd Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights.

Some 400 delegates met in Kenya, where at least half of all women aged 15 and older have experienced sexual violence, with close family members among the perpetrators, according to a survey carried out in 2003.