PROTOCOL ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFRICA

The "Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa" follows in the footsteps of CEDAW in prohibiting all forms of discrimination against women. Developed specifically regarding the context of Africa, the Protocol ensures the rights of African women through supplying them with access to a comprehensive legal framework. Through ratifying the Protocol, countries commit themselves to

  • Guarantee every woman's right to peace, and to ensure the full participation of women in conflict prevention and post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation.

  • Ensure the reproductive rights of women to abortion when pregnancy is caused by rape or incest, or when a pregnancy endangers the health or life of a mother.

  • Guarantee equal opportunity and access for women to education and training.

  • Legally prohibit all forms of FGM and to eradicate harmful practices and stereotypes that adversely affect women.

  • Promote the participation of women in governance.

  • Specifically recognise the rights of widows, elderly women, migrant women, marginalised women and women in detention.

  • Promote equality of access to employment and the right to equal pay for jobs of equal value.

SIHA recently showed support to Solidarity for African Women's Rights Coalition (SOAWR). Comprised of 19 women's rights organizations, SOAWR joined forces in 2003 to campaign for the signing and ratification of the Protocol, which came into force on November 25th 2005, after Togo became the 15th country to ratify it.


SOAWR’s goal is to popularize the AU Protocol, as well as to ensure domestication and/or implementation of the protocol at national level. Since its foundation SOAWR has produced advocacy material through various media, participated in the last five African Union Summits and initiated the Color Card Campaign during the African Union meetings (Green for those that had ratified, Yellow for those that had signed but not ratified, and red for those that had not signed the protocol). As of March 2007 43 African countries have signed and 20 have ratified the Protocol. Through joining forces with SOAWR, SIHA is committed to advocating the Protocol throughout the Horn of Africa.

 
 
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