Human rights are women's rights

The Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa is beyond doubt the missing link in the Charter's protection of women. It’s adoption not only anchors into African soil the message and recognition that the injustices plaguing African women will no longer be tolerated, but it also affirms that human rights are women's rights too.

Although it is a document of great conceptual wealth, without the co-operation, political will, and commitment required from the members of the AU, its ambition to "ensure that the rights of women are promoted, realised and protected in order to enable them to enjoy fully all their human rights" will never come to fruition. It will be nothing more than a piece of paper with writing.

I thank the pioneers of this initiative, for their efforts on behalf of the larger half of humanity, from (in God we trust) saving the Protocol from such a miserable fate.

Obiagali Adaure, Nigeria