African Women at the forefront of the fight for human rights

The African Union (AU) through the Women, Gender and Development Directorate and the African Union (AU) Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa (SRRWA) of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR), convened a High-Level Consultation meeting to accelerate the ratification, domestication and implementation of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol on Women’s Rights) and the 15th Anniversary Celebrations of the Maputo Protocol, from 12-14 December , 2018 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The meeting was convened in collaboration with the Solidarity for African Women’s Rights (SOAWR), the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with the support of development partners. The High Level Consultation meeting and the 15th Anniversary celebrations of Maputo Protocol was held at the AUC Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

ACDHRS is one of the organizations that have been involved in the development and formulation of the Protocol since the very beginning in the 1990s, as a member of the first Working Group set up by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, tasked to prepare the zero draft of the Protocol and has accompanied the process since. After very fruitful collaboration with partners to advocate for its adoption in 2003, we cofounded together with Equality Now, FEMNET and Oxfam GB the Solidarity for African Women’s Rights (SOAWR) in 2004, a coalition that has continued to make its mark contributing towards the ratification, domestication and implementation of the Maputo Protocol. It is therefore, with great pleasure and a sense of pride that we associate ourselves with this meeting with States that are yet to ratify the Protocol and the celebration of 15 years of its existence.

Mrs. Hannah Forster, Director, African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) , pointed out that the potential and significance of the Protocol goes beyond the African continent. While complementing the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights in ensuring greater respect for observance of the human rights of women in Africa, it addresses gaps in the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women, and underlines the need to put in place effective policies and other measures to back up legislation. Commendation is, therefore, due to the 41 states that have ratified. We urge them to domesticate and implement the Protocol, especially the acceleration of legislative reforms to enhance policies and programmes to this end. The outstanding 14 states are encouraged to emulate this progressive step towards the promotion, protection and defense of the human rights of women. Without universal ratification, domestication, implementation and enforcement of this important document for the attainment of the human rights of women, not much progress would be achieved to address the dismal and discriminatory experiences of women in all spheres in Africa. Moreover, the attainment of gender equality and the empowerment of women will remain elusive.

The High-Level Consultation meeting brought together various stakeholders, including, among others:

AUC Officials

AU Organs: African Commission on Human and People’s Rights; African Court on Human and People’s Rights; African Union Commission on International Law; Pan-African Parliament; and Pan-African Women’s Organization.

Member States: Ministers and Experts responsible for Gender and Women’s Affairs, Experts from Ministries of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), and Members of National Parliament.

STC Bureau Members: Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); Burkina Faso; Mauritania; Ethiopia and Angola.

Civil Society Organizations: women’s rights organizations; women’s movements and youth organizations as well as academic institutions

UN Agencies: RCM Cluster 5 on Gender and Youth

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