Africa: Abuja meeting boosts ratifications of women's rights protocol

The latest number of ratifications to the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa stands at ten, following intensive campaigning at the Fourth Ordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) that took place between 24-31 January in Abuja, Nigeria.

Members of a coalition of civil society organisations operating under the banner of Solidarity for African Women's Rights (SOAWR) worked during the summit to accelerate the ratification of the Protocol by African governments.

As part of their campaigning work, SOAWR representatives handed out red cards to ministers of those countries who have not signed or ratified the protocol. Ministers of those countries who have signed the Protocol but not ratified received yellow cards, while those countries who had signed and ratified the Protocol received a congratulatory green card.

Sparked to action by having received a yellow card (signed, but not ratified), Senegal sought to correct the record in a meeting of 51 African ministers by noting that they should have been awarded a green card. Senegal had erroneously submitted their ratification to the AU by fax, but this had been rejected. Senegal's President Wade later arrived in Abuja with the original instrument of ratification.

Following the summit, The Comoros, Libya, Rwanda, Namibia, Lesotho, South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, Djibouti and Mali had ratified the protocol. A further two countries, Benin and Guinea, are in the process of ratification, while 24 other African countries have signed. Once 15 countries have ratified the Protocol it will come into force and the process of domesticating the provisions of the Protocol in national law will begin. The Protocol offers significant protection to the rights of women in Africa.

At the AU meeting, Winnie Byanyima, gender director in the office of the AU chairperson, said: "We must remember that rights are not given, they are claimed. I would like to thank the 19 women's organisations calling on the Heads of States to ratify the Protocol and deposit their instruments of ratification. Thanks to the efforts of your campaigns, we will acquire the number that we require. You should note that the Protocol stands apart from the tradition of most African instruments that are not ratified at such speed. We plan to work with you in future to promote women's rights."