FEMNET | Report on Status of Ratification of Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa

Report on Status of Ratification of Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa

By FEMNET
09 Nov 2015

A study was conducted by SOAWR (Solidarity for African Women’s Rights Coalition) across the 22 African member states who have not ratified the AU Protocol on the Rights of Women, two of whom ratified within the scope of this study (Guinea and Congo-Brazzaville), and another two who ratified post study (Swaziland and Cameroon) with emphasis on 10 focus countries with the aim of analyzing and mapping out country by country; a) the reasons and bottlenecks behind non-ratification, b) opportunities for change, both of which will enable the SOAWR Coalition members and others to develop an influencing strategy to better target and drive their advocacy and lobbying efforts to increase the number of ratifications of the Protocol amongst African states ahead of the 10 year Anniversary.
The full report is attached. This is a working document, therefore please feel free to email any informaton you have regarding obstacles and opportunities for ratification of this Protocol to prog-associate@femnet.or.ke for inclusion in the report. We very much value your inputs.
The Solidarity for African Women’s Rights Coalition (SOAWR) is a regional network with a membership of 40 national, regional and international civil society organizations in 22 African countries working towards the promotion and protection of women’s human rights in Africa. Since its inauguration in 2004, SOAWR has been engaged in advocacy around the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women (hereinafter the Protocol) by compelling African states to urgently sign, ratify, domesticate and fully implement the Protocol.
The Protocol, also referred to as the Maputo Protocol, guarantees comprehensive rights to women including the right to; partake in political processes, social and political equality with men, reproductive health and rights, and an end to female genital mutilation. The Protocol was adopted by the African Union on July 11, 2003 and entered into force on November 25, 2005. However, despite commitments made by the Heads of States under the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (SDGEA) in 2004; only 32 Member States out of the 54 have ratified the Protocol, thus delaying the realization of the commitments made 10 years on.
During the 2012 SOAWR Annual Meeting; members agreed to mark the 10years of the Protocol by accelerating the ratification of the Protocol. The following countries were identified for targeted advocacy effort in 2012-2013; Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Cote D’Ivoire, Burundi, Egypt, Ethiopia, Niger, Sudan, South Sudan and Tunisia.
As a result; a scoping study was conducted across the 54 member states, with strong emphasis on the identified countries with the aim of analyzing and mapping out country by country; a) the reasons and bottlenecks behind non-ratification, b) opportunities for change that will enable the SOAWR Coalition members to develop an influencing strategy to better target and drive their advocacy and lobbying efforts to increase the number of ratifications of the Protocol amongst African states ahead of the 10 year Anniversary.
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