Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa: campaign edition
SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN ON THE PROTOCOL TO THE AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS ON THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFRICA
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**SUPPORT THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN AFRICA: SIGN AN ONLINE PETITION**
http://www.pambazuka.org/petition/petition.php?id=1
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"I urge all African States to ratify the Protocol immediately; because African women's rights cannot be postponed as any human rights cannot be postponed."
Graça Machel
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"I am hopeful that all African Union member states will ratify the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa in the same spirit and with the same commitment they have adopted and are using to implement the gender component of the Statute of the AU, demonstrated by the encouraging example of appointing women to fill 50% of the seats on the African Commission."
Navanethem Pillay, South African judge on the International Criminal Court (ICC)
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Visit:
http://www.pambazuka.org/petition/petition.php?id=1
to sign the petition urging African states to ratify the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa. Once you have signed online remember to confirm your signature through an email that will be sent to you.
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CONTENTS
1. Unfinished Business - African Leaders Must Act Now to ratify The Protocol on the Rights of Women
The Protocol for the Rights of Women in Africa as it stands now is a piece of paper without any force, points out FAIZA JAMA MOHAMED. Even though the campaign by activists for the text of The Protocol on the Rights of African Women represented a successful model of cooperation among national, regional and international women's NGOs the rights it represent remain hypothetical until it is ratified.
Full article: http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=22726
2. A plea for ratification
By ratifying The Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa the preservation of African values is placed with women, "the custodians of legends and traditions known in our time for their unending fight for peace, liberty, dignity, justice and solidarity". ZEINAB KAMIL ALI believes that this is argument enough to encourage the Heads of States to emulate the Republic of Comoros in ratifying the Protocol.
Full article: http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=22732
3. The entry into force of the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa: A challenge for Africa and women
The entry into force of the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa will be an important step towards entrenching the human rights of women. But KAFUI ADJAMAGBO-JOHNSON says that it is important to note that it is a long way to the 15 ratifications necessary for the entry into force of the protocol. “Every human rights defender, man or woman, should feel concerned and lobby governmental and parliamentary authorities in order to convince them to ratify the protocol on women's rights and take steps for its effective implementation.”
Full article: http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=22721
4. African states: Equal to the task?
HANNAH FORSTER looks at the background and scope of the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa, highlighting some of the landmark provisions and what states will commit themselves once they ratify the Protocol. She concludes by appealing to states to stand up and perform their duty.
Full article: http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=22727
5. Time to take count of Africa's daughters
Good is no good where better can be attained, states GICHINGA NDIRANGU. Ratifying the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa is an important step, but domesticating its provisions into national law is the next crucial step.
Full article: http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=22723
6. Making governments accountable
Political expediency and global image are the reasons why governments ratify international human rights instruments, says DR SYLVIA TAMALE. But by ratifying governments are pledging to adhere to all the provisions of any given instrument. In this context, it is the duty of citizens to make governments accountable.
Full article:http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=22724
7. Zimbabwe's Women Acting Against AIDS
It has been both difficult and painful to comprehend the world's impassivity when millions of women and girls continue to die of AIDS that has come about as a consequence of gender discrimination, writes ISABELLA MATAMBANADZO. “The race, sex and class factors that have for the past two and a half decades allowed African women to die slowly, one at a time, from the casualty and shame of AIDS cannot go ignored.”
Full article: http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=22725
8. “It is not a gift to offer women, it is their right”
Women that are free from violence, educated and who fully participate in decision making at all levels: these are some of the results expected by the implementation of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa. And, asks MORISSANDA KOUYATE, which country would not want that for its citizens?
Full article: http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=22731
9. Meeting the gender parity target of 2005
As African leaders and heads of state plan to join hands in the forthcoming AU summit in Addis next month, three years after appending their signatures to the Dakar Framework for action (EFA Protocol, 2000), civil society’s perception on progress made on EFA by African countries has been mixed, argues ANDIWO OBONDOH
10. The reality…and the paperwork
War and violence, destitution, disease, poverty and discrimination - it is often African women who carry the burden of Africa's economic, social and political crisis. In July 2003 a piece of paper with a preamble and 29 articles was passed by the African Union that was hailed as major progress in the struggle for the rights of women on the continent. But what exactly is the reality facing African women? And how does the paperwork begin to address the realities? PAMBAZUKA NEWS looks at ten areas effecting women's rights and what the protocol says about them.
Full article: http://www.pambazuka.org/index.php?id=22722
** Statistics on gender in Africa, links to interesting articles, useful web sites and resources on women's rights.
This special issue has been produced jointly by Fahamu, Equality Now, FEMNET CREDO and Oxfam GB.